U. S. DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT ARKANSAS


JOHN S. LA TOUR                                                                                          PLAINTIFF

V.                                                                 FILE NO. 02-5001

CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, AR                                                                DEFENDANTS

 

CIVIL TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER

    This case is RESET for A JURY TRIAL in FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS at the call of the Court during the week beginning MAY 12, 2003. Counsel and unrepresented parties are directed to report to the Judge's chambers at 8:30 A.M. on the date of trial unless otherwise notified.  
    Parties are directed to comply with the following schedule:

    1. Initial Disclosures: 
    Mandatory initial disclosures pursuant to F.R.C.P. 26(a) (1) must be made no later than OCTOBER 15, 2002
   
     2. Discovery:
    (a) Discovery must be completed no later than JANUARY 20, 2003.
    (b) Except in extraordinary circumstances, problems with discovery which are not brought to the Court's attention in time for the opponent to make a proper response and the Court to make an informed ruling prior to JANUARY 20, 2003 will be deemed waived.

    3. Procedural and Dispositive Motions: 
    (a) Motions to amend pleadings or to join other parties must be filed no later than DECEMBER 20, 2002.
    (b) Motions for dismissal, summary judgment, or other relief which would dispose of the case without trial must be filed no later than JANUARY 24, 2003.
    
    4. Pre-Trial Motions and Objections: 
    Pre-trial motions, including Daubert motions and motions in limine, and objections to mandatory pre-trial disclosures in the Pre-Trial Disclosure Sheet, must be filed no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

    5. Jury Instructions: 
    (a) In any case to be tried to a jury, the parties must submit proposed jury instructions to the Court and opposing counsel no later than fourteen (14) days before trial. Each instruction must be accompanied by a citation to supporting authority. "Boilerplate" instructions need not be submitted. 
    (b) The parties are expected to confer in good faith regarding the applicable ,law and to submit an agreed set of jury instructions so far as possible.
    (c) Objections to jury instructions must be submitted to the Court and opposing counsel no later than five (5) days before trial. 

    6. Proposed Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law: 
    In any case to be tried to the Court, the parties must submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Court and opposing counsel no later than fourteen (14) days
before trial.

    7. Experts: All parties must make initial expert disclosures not later than ninety (90) days prior to the trial date and rebuttal expert disclosures must be made within thirty (30) days thereafter.

    8. Pre-Trial Disclosure Sheet:
    (a) No later than twenty-one (21) days before trial, the  parties must file a Pre-Trial Disclosure Sheet following the outline which appears at the conclusion of this Order. 
    (b) Witnesses and exhibits not disclosed in the Pre-Trial Disclosure Sheet may not be used at trial except in extraordinary circumstances.

    9. Exhibits: 
    (a) Parties are directed to come to trial with all exhibits properly marked in numerical sequence and listed on the enclosed form, with notations as to which exhibits, if any, will be admitted by stipulation of the parties.
    (b) On request, a party shall make the original of any exhibit available to opposing counsel for inspection. 

    10. Continuances:  No continuances will be granted except for good cause shown. That a party does not have time to depose a witness; to complete discovery; or otherwise prepare for trial will not normally be considered to be good cause.

11. Miscellaneous:
    (a) Trial Length: If any party anticipates the trial will take more than three (3) days, the Court should be immediately notified.
   (b) Settlement: If settlement occurs, the Court should be advised immediately by telephoning Gail Garner, Courtroom Deputy,  at 479-444-7876 (Fayetteville). A case reportedly settled will not be removed from the trial calendar until the Court has signed and filed an order of dismissal. 
    (c) Settlement Conferences: The Court has authorized the U.S. Magistrate Judges for the Western District of Arkansas to conduct settlement conferences in selected cases. Settlement conferences may be conducted if it appears to the U. S. Magistrate Judge that such would be useful, or if either party so requests. 
    Settlement conferences will be conducted in the Fort Smith, Fayetteville and Harrison Divisions by U.S. Magistrate Judge Beverly Stites-Jones, P.O. Box 1525, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902, and in the Hot Springs, El Dorado and Texarkana Divisions by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bobby E. Shepherd, P. o. Box 1733, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731.
    (d) Effect of Continuances: If this case should be continued from its scheduled trial date, this Order will nevertheless remain in effect unless otherwise ordered.
    (e) Amendments to this Scheduling Order:  The parties may not  amend or deviate from the schedule set out herein without the prior  express permission of the Court, which permission will be granted only on a showing of good cause.

    IT IS SO ORDERED this 30 day of September, 2002.

JIMM LARRY HENDREN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

 

 

OUTLINE FOR PRETRIAL DISCLOSURE SHEET

    (1) The identity of the party submitting information.

    (2) The names, address, and telephone numbers of counsel for the party. 

    (3) A brief summary of claims and relief sought.

    (4) Prospects for settlement. (The Court expects attorneys to explore

the possibility of settlement before responding.)

    (5) The basis for jurisdiction or objections to jurisdiction. 

    (6) A list of pending motions.

    (7) A concise summary of facts.

    (8) All proposed stipulations.

    (9) The issues of fact expected to be contested.

    (10) The issues of law expected to be contested, with appropriate citations to legal authority.

    (11) A list and brief description of all anticipated exhibits, segregating those exhibits the party expects to use from those the party may use.

    (12) A list and brief description of charts, graphs, models, and similar objects which will be used in opening statement or closing argument whether or not they will be offered in evidence.

    (13) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all anticipated witnesses, segregating those witnesses the party expects to call from those the party may call, and identifying those witnesses whose testimony will be presented by deposition. (This does not include witnesses to be used solely for impeachment or rebuttal whose identity is not yet known).

    (14) Any request to amend pleadings.

    (15) The current status of discovery.

    (16) Suggestions for expediting disposition of the action.

    (17) An estimate of the length of trial.

    (18) Indicate whether you agree to a six (6) person jury. 

    (19) The signature of the attorney.

    (20) Proof of service.

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