United States v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Company of America

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant,

v. No. 22-cv-0242 DHU/SMV

TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY OF AMERICA,

Defendant/Counterclaimant.

AMENDED INITIAL SCHEDULING ORDER This case is assigned to me for scheduling, case management, discovery, and all non-dispositive motions. Both the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, as well as the Local Rules of the Court apply to this lawsuit. Civility and professionalism are required of counsel. Counsel must read and comply with “A Lawyer’s Creed of Professionalism of the State Bar of New Mexico.” The parties, appearing through counsel or pro se, must “meet and confer” to formulate a provisional discovery plan. Fed R. Civ. P. 26(f). At the meet-and-confer session, the parties must discuss: (1) the nature and bases of their claims and defenses; (2) the possibility of a prompt resolution or settlement; (3) making or arranging for complete initial disclosures as required by Rule 26(a)(1); (4) preserving discoverable information; and, (5) the formulation of a provisional discovery plan. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1), (f). In formulating a provisional discovery plan, counsel and pro se parties should meaningfully discuss: (i) the subjects on which discovery may be needed, when discovery should be completed, and whether discovery should be conducted in phases or limited to particular issues; (ii) the disclosure, discovery, and preservation of electronically stored information, including the form(s) in which it should be produced; (iii) any claims of privilege or confidentiality of materials, including exploring whether the parties can agree on a procedure to assert these claims and whether they will ask the Court to include any agreement in an order; (iv) whether any changes should be sought to the limitations on discovery imposed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Local Civil Rules; and (v) the facts and the law governing the case to which the parties are willing to stipulate. The parties are advised to strictly follow the letter and spirit of Rule 26(a)(1) in preparing their initial disclosures. Initial disclosures are intended to accelerate the exchange of core information about the case and eliminate the need for formal discovery at the early stages of

litigation. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1) 1993 advisory committee’s notes. The parties must meet these objectives in making their initial disclosures and should be prepared to explain how they have fully complied with their obligations under Rule 26(a)(1) at the Second Rule 16 initial scheduling conference. The parties will cooperate in preparing an Amended Joint Status Report and Provisional Discovery Plan (“JSR”), following the sample JSR available at the Court’s web site. The parties are to fill in the blanks for proposed dates, bearing in mind that the time allowed for discovery is generally 120 to 180 days from the date of the Rule 16 initial scheduling conference. Plaintiff (or Defendant in removed cases) is responsible for filing the Amended JSR by December 5, 2022. The Court will determine actual case management deadlines after considering the parties’

requests. Parties may not modify case management deadlines on their own. Good cause must be shown and the Court’s express and written approval obtained for any modification of the dates in the Scheduling Order. A Second Rule 16 initial scheduling conference will be held by telephone on December 12, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. MST. The parties must call the Court’s AT&T Conference Line, (888) 363-4734 (access code: 4382538), to connect to the proceedings. At the conference, counsel must be prepared to discuss their Amended JSR; all claims and defenses; initial disclosures; discovery requests and scheduling; issues relating to the disclosure, discovery, and preservation of electronically stored information; the timing of expert disclosures and reports under Rule 26(a)(2);' and the use of scientific evidence and whether it is anticipated that a Dauber? hearing will be needed. We will also discuss settlement prospects, alternative dispute resolution possibilities, and consideration of consent pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). Lead counsel and parties appearing pro se must participate unless excused by the Court. Parties represented by counsel need not attend. Pre-trial practice in this case shall be in accordance with the foregoing. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the deadlines shall be as follows: Amended JSR filed by: December 5, 2022 Telephonic Second Rule 16 Initial Scheduling Conference: December 12, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. MST

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STEPHAN M. VIDMAR United States Magistrate Judge

! In preparing the JSR, counsel should be familiar with the Rule 26 requirements concerning disclosure of expert testimony for witnesses who do not provide a written report. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(C). 2 See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 590-92 (1993).