UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

____________________________________

: 

JAMES WRIGHT : Civil Action No. 11-602 (SRC)(MAS)

 : 

Plaintiff, : Hon. Stanley R. Chesler 

 :

 : 

 v. : SCHEDULING ORDER

 :

HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES :

GROUP, et. al. :

 Defendants. :

 :

____________________________________:

It is on this 6 day of May, 2011; th

ORDERED THAT:

(1) A scheduling conference be conducted before the undersigned at 4:00 P.M. on 

June 15, 2011, in Courtroom 2C, Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Building and Court House,

50 Walnut Street, Newark, New Jersey. See Local Civil Rule 16.1(a)(1).

(2) The lead attorney on the case must attend the conference in person and be

prepared to discuss all aspects of the case including avenues of early resolution, and must have

discussed settlement of the matter with the client.

(3) The early disclosure requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 will be enforced. Therefore,

the parties shall immediately exchange the information described in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(A) -

(D) without awaiting a discovery request.1

Certain categories of cases are exempt from early disclosure requirements. See Fed. R. Civ. P.

26(a)(1)(f).

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(4) At least fourteen (14) days prior to the conference scheduled herein, the parties shall

confer pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and shall submit a discovery plan to the undersigned no

later than one week prior to the conference with the Court. The parties are directed to Local

Civil Rule 26.1(b)(2), which describes the matters to be discussed when they confer and the

content of the discovery plan. THE DISCOVERY PLAN SHALL BE IN THE FORM

ATTACHED AND SHALL BE SUBMITTED JOINTLY.

(5) Unless the parties stipulate otherwise, the case management order will limit the

number of interrogatories (25) and depositions (10) which each party may seek. See Fed. R. Civ.

P. 26(b), 26(d). 

(6) At the conference with the Court, all parties who are not appearing pro se shall be

represented by counsel who shall have full authority to bind their clients in all pretrial matters. 

Local Civil Rule 16.1(a)(3).

(7) At the conference scheduled herein, the Court will address scheduling of all motions.

No motions shall be filed without prior leave of the Court. If any motions have already been 

filed, immediately advise the Court in writing regarding the nature of the motions and the present

status of same.

(8) Plaintiff(s) shall notify any party who hereafter enters an appearance of the 

conference scheduled herein and forward to that party a copy hereof.

 (9) The parties shall advise the undersigned immediately if this action has been settled or

terminated so that the conference scheduled herein may be cancelled.

(10) The parties are directed to Local Civil Rule 26.1(d), which addresses “discovery of

digital information including computer-based information,” describes the obligations of counsel

with regard to their clients’ information management systems, and directs parties to “confer and

Case 2:11-cv-00602-SRC -MAS Document 7 Filed 05/06/11 Page 2 of 9 PageID: 25
attempt to agree on computer-based and other digital discovery matters.”

(11) The Court has implemented an electronic case filing system for all

documents filed with the Clerk of Court. Documents not filed electronically, but rather filed in

the traditional manner on paper must be accompanied by a disc or cd containing the document in

PDF format. Orders will be electronically filed. Paper copies will be provided to pro se litigants

and counsel who are not registered to file electronically. Registered counsel will be notified via

email when an order is filed but are responsible for retrieving and reviewing the contents.

(12) To register as an electronic filer, obtain on-line training, and see policies and

 procedures, contact the Clerk’s Office or visit the website at pacer.njd.uscourts.gov. On-site

training is also available and can be arranged by contacting 973-645-4439.

(13) The Court has various audio/visual and automated evidence presentation equipment

available to the Bar for use at no cost. This equipment includes an evidence presentation system,

which consists of a document camera and a projector. The projector may be used to display

images which originate from a variety of sources, including television, VCR, and personal

computer. The document camera may be used to display documents, photographs, charts,

transparencies and small objects. For further information, please contact the Clerk’s Office.

(14) Failure to comply with the terms hereof may result in the imposition of sanctions.

 s/Michael A. Shipp 

MICHAEL A. SHIPP

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:11-cv-00602-SRC -MAS Document 7 Filed 05/06/11 Page 3 of 9 PageID: 26
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

____________________________________

: 

: Civil Action No.

 : 

Plaintiff(s) : Hon.

 :

 : 

 v. : DISCOVERY PLAN

 :

 :

 :

 Defendant(s) :

 :

____________________________________:

1. Set forth the name of each attorney appearing, the firm name, address and telephone

number and facsimile number of each, designating the party represented.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Set forth a brief description of the case, including the causes of action and affirmative

defenses asserted.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3. Has this action been: Settled: _______________ Discontinued: ___________________

If so, has there been a Stipulation/Dismissal filed?

Yes __________ No __________

Case 2:11-cv-00602-SRC -MAS Document 7 Filed 05/06/11 Page 4 of 9 PageID: 27
4. Have settlement discussions taken place? Yes __________ No __________

If so, when? ____________________________________________________________

(a) What was plaintiff’s last demand?

 (1) Monetary demand: $ ___________

(2) Non-monetary demand: __________

(b) What was defendant’s last offer?

(1) Monetary offer: $ ___________

(2) Non-monetary offer: __________

5. The parties [have ______ have not ______ ] exchanged the information required by 

 Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1). If not, state the reason therefor.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

6. Explain any problems in connection with completing the disclosures required by Fed 

 R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

7. The parties [have __________ have not __________] conducted discovery other than 

 the above disclosures. If so, describe. 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

8. The parties [have __________ have not __________] met pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 

 26(f): 

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__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

 (a) If not, state the reason therefor.

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

 (b) If so, state the date of the meeting and the persons in attendance.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

9. The following [is __________ is not __________] a proposed joint discovery plan.

 

 (a) Discovery is needed on the following subjects:

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 (b) Discovery [should __________ should not __________] be conducted in phases or 

 be limited to particular issues. Explain.

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________ 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 (c) Maximum of _____ Interrogatories by each party to each other party.

 (d) Maximum of _____ depositions to be taken by each party.

Case 2:11-cv-00602-SRC -MAS Document 7 Filed 05/06/11 Page 6 of 9 PageID: 29
 (e) Plaintiff’s expert report due on _______________.

 (f) Defendant’s expert report due on ______________.

 (g) Motions to amend or to add parties to be filed by _______________.

 (h) Dispositive motions to be served within __________days of completion of 

discovery.

 (i) Factual discovery to be completed by .

 (j) Expert discovery to be completed by ____________.

 (k) Set forth any special discovery mechanism or procedure requested, including data 

 preservation orders or protective orders:

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 (l) A pretrial conference may take place on .

 (m) Trial date: ______________________ (______Jury Trial; _____ Non-Jury Trial).

10. Do you anticipate any special discovery needs (i.e., videotape/telephone depositions, 

 problems with out-of-state witnesses or documents, etc)? Yes _______No_______. 

 If so, please explain.

 

 

11. Do you anticipate any issues about disclosure or discovery of electronically stored

information, including the form or forms in which it should be produced?

Yes _______ No _______.

If so, how will electronic discovery or data be disclosed or produced? Describe any

agreements reached by the parties regarding same, including costs of discovery,

Case 2:11-cv-00602-SRC -MAS Document 7 Filed 05/06/11 Page 7 of 9 PageID: 30
production, related software, licensing agreements, etc.

 

 

12. Do you anticipate any other discovery problem(s) not listed above? 

 Yes ________ No _______.

 If so, explain. 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

__________________________________________________________________________

13. State whether this case is appropriate for voluntary arbitration (pursuant to Local Civil 

Rule 201.1 or otherwise), mediation (pursuant to Local Civil Rule 301.1 or otherwise), 

appointment of a special master or other special procedure. If not, explain why and

state whether any such procedure may be appropriate at a later time (i.e., after exchange

of pretrial disclosures, after completion of depositions, after disposition or dispositive 

 motions, etc.).

 

 

14. Is this case appropriate for bifurcation? Yes __________ No __________

15. An interim status/settlement conference (with clients in attendance), should be held in

 _______________________________________.

16. We [do __________ do not __________] consent to the trial being conducted by a 

 Magistrate Judge.

Case 2:11-cv-00602-SRC -MAS Document 7 Filed 05/06/11 Page 8 of 9 PageID: 31
 

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff(s)

 

Attorney(s) for Defendant(s)

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