Rule 17 Pretrial

17.01 Appearance

When a pretrial is scheduled by the Court either at the request of a party, as a part of a case management order, or at the instance of the Court, the pretrial shall require the appearance of counsel at the Court unless arrangements are made to the satisfaction of the Court for the holding of the pretrial by conference call.

Counsel shall appear at pretrial with their calendars. They shall be prepared to fully discuss the case, the status of discovery, and be fully authorized negotiate toward settlement. Unless otherwise directed, they shall be accompanied by their client or have their client immediately available by phone.

17.02 Pretrial Statement - Civil

A Pretrial statement shall be filed by each counsel at least one day prior to the pretrial and a copy served on opposing counsel. The Pretrial statement shall contain the following required data:

1. The name of the attorney who will be trial counsel and who is fully authorized to act and negotiate on behalf of the party.
2. A statement of the issues involved and a statement in writing of all questions of law which it is expected will be involved in the case.
3. A list of parties either not served or in default.
4. A list of all exhibits which are expected to be offered in evidence at the trial;
5. An itemization of all special damages claimed;
6. The names of all witnesses both expert and non-expert expected to be called at trial;
7. The expected length of the trial;
8. Whether or not a view will be requested;
9. Whether or not a jury trial, if previously demanded, will now be waived, and, if not, the number of jurors demanded;
10. Whether or not the issue of liability should be tried separately from damages.

The Court may, in lieu of the standard pretrial statement, require at pretrial the submission of a final pretrial order agreed by all parties in such form and addressing such matters as the Court may direct.

17.03 Pretrial Statement - Domestic

A Pretrial statement shall be filed by each counsel at least one day prior to the pretrial and shall be served on opposing counsel. The Pretrial statement shall contain the following required data:

1. A statement as to which of the following issues are contested - Jurisdiction of Court, fact of marriage, paternity of children, grounds, designation of residential parent and legal custodian or shared parenting plan, visitation, child support, spousal support, designation of beginning and ending dates for determination of marital debts and property, marital/separate property determination, personal property division, personal property valuation, intangible assets valuation, intangible asset division, pension plan valuation, real property division, real property valuation, small business valuation, determination of income from self employment, determination of marital debts.
2. For issues not contested set forth the parties agreement on that issue or a statement that the issue is not presented in this case.
3. For issues that are contested set forth names of witnesses, expert and non-expert, list all exhibits that will be introduced, and an itemized list of asserted value of property.
4. Statement of the expected length of the hearing.

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