Court Opinion

ID: 2665075
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-04 07:06:57.215695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:05:06.186226
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                            FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
                              Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland

Civil Action No. 10-cv-02595-REB-BNB

WILDEARTH GUARDIANS,

Plaintiff,

v.

KEN SALAZAR, in his official capacity as Secretary, United States Department of the Interior,

Defendant.

             ORDER SETTING RULE 16(b) SCHEDULING CONFERENCE
                     AND RULE 26(f) PLANNING MEETING

      This case has been referred to Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland by Judge Robert E.
Blackburn, pursuant to the Order of Reference dated October 26, 2010. See 28 U.S.C.
§636(b)(1)(A) and (B) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a) and (b).

        IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

       (1) The court will hold a scheduling/planning conference pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
16(b) on:

                               January 13, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.

The conference will be held in Courtroom A-401, Fourth Floor, Alfred A. Arraj United States
Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver, Colorado. If this date is not convenient for any party1, that
party shall confer with opposing parties and contact my chambers to reschedule the conference
to a more convenient date. Please remember anyone entering the Alfred A. Arraj United
States Courthouse will be required to show a valid photo identification. See
D.C.COLO.LCivR 83.2 B.

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        The term “party” as used in this Order means counsel for any party represented by a
lawyer and any pro se party not represented by a lawyer.
        A copy of the instructions for the preparation of a scheduling order and a form of
scheduling order can be downloaded from the court’s website at www.co.uscourts.gov/forms-
frame.htm. (Click on “Civil Forms” in the blue box at the top of the screen and scroll down to
the bold hearing “Standardized Order Forms”). Parties shall prepare the proposed scheduling
order in accordance with the court’s form. Please note that the form of scheduling order was
modified on December 1, 2009. Parties are directed to use the modified form.

        The parties shall submit their proposed scheduling order, pursuant to District of Colorado
Electronic Case Filing (“ECF”) Procedures V.L, including a copy of the proposed scheduling
order in a WordPerfect or Word format sent via e-mailed to
Boland_Chambers@cod.uscourts.gov, all as required by ECF Procedure V.L. 2(a) and (b), on or
before:

                                       January 6, 2011

Attorneys and/or parties not participating in ECF shall submit their proposed scheduling order on
paper to the Clerk’s Office. However, if any party in the case is participating in ECF, it is the
responsibility of that party to submit the proposed scheduling order pursuant to the District of
Colorado ECF Procedures.

The plaintiff shall notify all parties who have not yet entered an appearance of the date and time
of the scheduling/planning conference and provide a copy of this Order to those parties.

        (2) In preparation for the scheduling/planning conference, the parties are directed to
confer in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) on or before:

                                      December 23, 2010

The court encourages the parties to meet face to face, but if that is not possible, the parties may
meet by telephone conference. All parties are jointly responsible for arranging and attending the
Rule 26(f) meeting.

        During the Rule 26(f) meeting, the parties shall discuss the nature and basis of their
claims and defenses and the possibilities for a prompt settlement or resolution of the case; make
or arrange for the disclosures required by Rule 26(a)(1); and develop their proposed
scheduling/discovery plan. The parties should also discuss the possibility of informal discovery,
such as conducting joint interviews with potential witnesses, joint meetings with clients,
depositions via telephone, or exchanging documents outside of formal discovery.

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        In those cases in which (i) the parties’ substantive allegations involve extensive
computer-generated records; (ii) a substantial amount of disclosure or discovery will involve
information or records in electronic form (i.e., e-mail, word processing, databases); (iii) expert
witnesses will develop testimony based in large part on computer data and/or modeling; or
(iv) any party plans to present a substantial amount of evidence in digital form at trial, the parties
shall confer regarding steps they can take to preserve computer records and data, facilitate
computer-based discovery, resolve privilege issues, limit discovery costs and delay, and avoid
discovery disputes relating to electronic discovery. The parties shall be prepared to discuss these
issues, as appropriate, in the proposed scheduling order and at the scheduling/planning
conference.

       These are the minimum requirements for the Rule 26(f) meeting. The parties are
encouraged to have a comprehensive discussion and are required to approach the meeting
cooperatively and in good faith. The parties are reminded that the purpose of the Rule 26(f)
meeting is to expedite the disposition of the action, discourage wasteful pretrial activities, and
improve the quality of any eventual trial through more thorough preparation. The discussion of
claims and defenses shall be a substantive, meaningful discussion.

       The parties are reminded that pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(d) no discovery shall be
sought prior to the Rule 26(f) meeting.

       (3) The parties shall comply with the mandatory disclosure requirements of Fed. R. Civ.
P. 26(a)(1) on or before:

                                        January 6, 2011

Counsel and parties are reminded that the mandatory disclosure requirements encompass
computer-based evidence which may be used to support claims or defenses. Mandatory
disclosures must be supplemented by the parties consistent with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ.
P. 26(e). Mandatory disclosures and supplementation are not to be filed with the Clerk of the
Court.

         (4) This matter also is referred to Magistrate Judge Boland for settlement purposes and
with the authority to convene such settlement conferences and direct related procedures as may
facilitate resolution of this case. The scheduling/planning conference on January 13, 2011, is not
a settlement conference, and no client representative is required to appear. Nonetheless, to
facilitate an early evaluation of the possibility of settlement, the parties shall e-mail a
Confidential Settlement Statement in PDF format to Boland_Chambers@cod.uscourts.gov on or
before January 6, 2011. This statement shall briefly outline the facts and issues in the case and
the possibilities for settlement, including any settlement authority from the client. Attorneys

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and/or pro se parties not participating in ECF shall submit a single copy of their Confidential
Settlement Statements, on paper, to the Clerk’s Office marked “Personal and Confidential.”

        (5) All parties are expected to be familiar with the Local Rules of Practice for the District
of Colorado. Copies are available from the Clerk of the Court, United States District Court for
the District of Colorado, or through the District Court’s web site: www.cod.uscourts.gov. All
out-of-state counsel shall comply with D.C.COLO.LCivR 83.3 prior to the scheduling/planning
conference.

       DATED November 1, 2010.

                                              BY THE COURT:

                                                s/ Boyd N. Boland
                                              United States Magistrate Judge

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