Whitney Information, et al v. Xcentric Ventures, et al

Filing 42

CASE MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING ORDER. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 3/17/2005. (LAG, )

Whitney Information, et al v. Xcentric Ventures, et al

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION
WHITNEY INFORMATION NETWORK, INC. and RUSS WHITNEY, Plaintiffs, -vsXCENTRIC VENTURES, LLC; BADBUSINESSBUREAU.ORG; and ED MAGEDSON, Defendants. ______________________________________ Case No. 2:04-cv-47-FtM-33SPC

CASE MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING ORDER
Having considered the case management report prepared by the parties, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(f) and Local Rule 3.05(c), the Court enters this case management and scheduling order: Mandatory Initial Disclosures (pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1) as amended effective December 1, 2000) Certificate of Interested Persons and Corporate Disclosure Statement Motions to Add Parties or to Amend Pleadings Disclosure of Expert Reports Discovery Deadline Mediation The parties shall file a stipulation selecting a mediator within eleven days of the date of this Order. Dispositive Motions, Daubert, and Markman Motions Meeting In Person to Prepare Joint Final Pretrial Statement Joint Final Pretrial Statement (Including a Single Set of Jointly Proposed Jury Instructions and Verdict Form (With diskette), Voir Dire Questions, Witnesses Lists, Exhibit Lists on Approved Form DECEMBER 1, 2005 JANUARY 20, 2006 FEBRUARY 1, 2006 Deadline: P l a i nt i f f : Defendant:

APRIL 1, 2005 IMMEDIATELY MAY 2, 2005 SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 OCTOBER 3, 2005 NOVEMBER 1, 2005 NOVEMBER 15, 2005

Dockets.Justia.com

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All Other Motions Including Motions In Limine, Trial Briefs Final Pretrial Conference Date: Time: Judge:

FEBRUARY 13, 2006 MARCH 2, 2006 9:30 A.M. Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington APRIL 3, 2006 3 days Jury

Trial Term Begins [Trials Before Magistrate Judges Begin on Date Certain] Estimated Length of Trial Jury/Non Jury The purpose of this order is to discourage wasteful pretrial activities, and to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of the action. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 1; Local Rule 1.01(b). This order controls the subsequent course of this proceeding. Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b), (e). Counsel and all parties (both represented and pro se) shall comply with this order, with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and with the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Counsel shall also comply with the Ideals and Goals of Professionalism adopted by the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar on May 16, 1990. See 73 FLORIDA BAR JO U R N A L 711- 13 (September 1999); Local Rule 2.04(g). I. DISCOVERY

B. Discovery Not Filed ­ The parties shall not file discovery materials with the Clerk except as provided in Local Rule 3.03. The Court encourages the exchange of discovery requests on diskette. See Local Rule 3.03(f). A copy of the Local Rules may be viewed at http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov. C. Limits on Discovery ­ Absent leave of Court, the parties may take no more than ten depositions per side (not per party). Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(a)(2)(A); Fed.R.Civ.P. 31(a)(2)(A); Local Rule 3.02(b). Absent leave of Court, the parties may serve no more than twenty-five interrogatories, including sub-parts. Fed.R.Civ.P. 33(a); Local Rule 3.03(a). Absent leave of the Court or stipulation by the parties, each deposition is limited to one day of seven hours. Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(d)(2) (as amended eff. Dec. 1, 2000). The parties may agree by stipulation on other limits on discovery within the context of the limits and deadlines established by this case management and scheduling order, but the parties may not alter the terms of this order without leave of Court. Fed.R.Civ.P. 29. D. Discovery Deadline ­ Each party shall timely serve discovery requests so that the rules allow for a response prior to the discovery deadline. The Court may deny as untimely all motions to compel filed after the discovery deadline. E. Disclosure of Expert Testimony ­ On or before the date set forth in the above table for the disclosure of expert reports, the party shall fully comply with Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(2) and 26(e). Expert testimony on direct examination at trial
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A. Certificate of Interested Persons and Corporate Disclosure Statement ­ This Court has previously ordered each party, governmental party, intervenor, non-party movant, and Rule 69 garnishee to file and serve a Certificate of Interested Persons and Corporate Disclosure Statement using a mandatory form. No party may seek discovery from any source before filing and serving a Certificate of Interested Persons and Corporate Disclosure Statement. A motion, memorandum, response, or other paper ­ including emergency motion ­ may be denied or stricken unless the filing party has previously filed and served its Certificate of Interested Persons and Corporate Disclosure Statement. Any party who has not already filed and served the required certificate shall do so within eleven days of the date of this order or sanctions will be imposed.

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will be limited to the opinions, basis, reasons, data, and other information disclosed in the written expert report disclosed pursuant to this order. Failure to disclose such information may result in the exclusion of all or part of the testimony of the expert witness. F. Confidentiality Agreements ­ The parties may reach their own agreement regarding the designation of materials as "confidential." There is no need for the Court to endorse the confidentiality agreement. The Court discourages unnecessary stipulated motions for a protective order. The Court will enforce stipulated and signed confidentiality agreements. See Local Rule 4.15. Each confidentiality agreement or order shall provide, or shall be deemed to provide, that "no party shall file a document under seal without first having obtained an order granting leave to file under seal on a showing of particularized need." See also "Motions to File Under Seal" below. II. MOTIONS

have not "conferred." Counsel must respond promptly to inquiries and communications from opposing counsel. Board of Governors of the Florida Bar, Ideals and Goals of Professionalism, 73 Florida Bar Journal 712 - 13 ¶ 6.10 and Creed of Professionalism ¶ 8 (adopted May 16, 1990). The Court will deny motions that fail to include an appropriate, complete Rule 3.01(g) certificate. B. Extension of Deadlines

A. Certificate of Good Faith Conference ­ Before filing any motion in a civil case, the moving party shall confer with counsel for the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised by the motion, and shall file with the motion a statement certifying that the moving party has conferred with opposing counsel, and that counsel have been unable to agree on the resolution of the motion. Local Rule 3.01(g); Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(c). No certificate is required in a motion for injunctive relief, for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to dismiss or to permit maintenance of a class action, to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or to involuntarily dismiss an action. Local Rule 3.01(g). Nevertheless, the Court expects that a party alleging that a pleading fails to state a claim will confer with counsel for the opposing party before moving to dismiss, and will agree to an order permitting the filing of a curative amended pleading. Fed.R.Civ.P. 10, 15. The term "confer" in Rule 3.01(g) requires a substantive conversation in person or by telephone in a good faith effort to resolve the motion without court action, and does not envision an exchange of ultimatums by fax or letter. Counsel who merely "attempt" to confer
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1. Dispositive Motions Deadline and Trial Not Extended ­ Motions to extend the dispositive motions deadline or to continue the trial are generally denied. See Local Rule 3.05(c)(2)(E). The Court will grant an exception only when necessary to prevent manifest injustice. A motion for a continuance of the trial is subject to denial if it fails to comply with Local Rule 3.09. The Court cannot extend a dispositive motion deadline to the eve of trial. In light of the district court's heavy felony trial calender, at least four months are required before trial to receive memoranda in opposition to a motion for summary judgment, and to research and resolve the dispositive motion sufficiently in advance of trial. 2. Extensions of Other Deadlines Disfavored ­ Motions for an extension of other deadlines established in this order, including motions for an extension of the discovery period, are disfavored. The deadline will not be extended absent a showing of good cause. Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b); Local Rule 3.09(a). Failure to complete discovery within the time established by this order shall not constitute cause for continuance unless brought to the attention of the Court at least sixty days in advance of the beginning of the scheduled trial term. The movant must show that the failure to complete discovery is not the result of lack of diligence in pursuing discovery. Local Rule 3.09(b). A motion to extend an established deadline normally will be denied if the motion fails to recite that: 1) the motion is joint or unopposed; 2) the additional discovery is necessary for specified reasons; 3) all parties agree that the extension will not affect the dispositive motions deadline and trial date; 4) all parties agree that any discovery conducted after the dispositive motions date established in this

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scheduling order will not be available for summary judgment purposes; and 5) no party will use the granting of the extension in support of a motion to extend another date or deadline. The filing of a motion for extension of time does not toll the time for compliance with deadlines established by rule or order. C. Motions to Compel and for Protective Order ­ Motions to compel and motions for a protective order will be denied unless the motion fully complies with Local Rule 3.04, requiring the motion to quote in full each interrogatory, question, or request; to quote in full opposing party's objection and grounds, or response which is asserted to be insufficient; and to state the reasons the motion should be granted. D. Motions to File Under Seal ­ Whether documents filed in a case may be filed under seal is a separate issue from whether the parties may agree that produced documents are confidential. Motions to file under seal are disfavored. The Court will permit the parties to file documents under seal only upon a finding of extraordinary circumstances and particularized need. See Brown v. Advantage Engineering, Inc., 960 F.2d 1013 (11th Cir. 1992); Wilson v. American Motors Corp., 759 F.2d 1568 (11th Cir. 1985). A party seeking to file a document under seal must file a motion to file under seal requesting such Court action, together with a memorandum of law in support. The motion, whether granted or denied, will remain in the public record. E. Memoranda in Opposition ­ Each party opposing any written motion shall file and serve, within eleven days1 after being served with such motion, a legal memorandum with citation of authorities in opposition to the relief requested.

Local Rule 3.01(b). Where no memorandum in opposition has been filed, the Court routinely grants the motion as unopposed. Motions titled as "unopposed" or "agreed" normally come to the Court's attention prior to the deadline for response. If the parties are in agreement, counsel should consider whether an unfiled stipulation is sufficient in lieu of a motion seeking a Court order. F. Emergency Motions ­ The Court may consider and determine emergency motions at any time. Local Rule 3.01(e). Counsel should be aware that the designation "emergency" may cause a judge to abandon other pending matters in order to immediately address the "emergency." The Court will sanction any counsel or party who designates a motion as "emergency" under circumstances that are not true emergencies. It is not an emergency when counsel has delayed discovery until the end of the discovery period. G. Twenty Page Limit ­ No party shall file a brief or memorandum in excess of twenty pages. Local Rule 3.01(c). The Clerk will return oversized memoranda. Motions for relief from page limitations are disfavored and will not be granted without a specific showing of good cause. H. Motions for Summary Judgment

C ou nse l will note that this order modifies Loc a l Rule 3.01(b) (allowing opposition to a motion w ithin 10 days) in this case. Intermediate Saturdays, S un da ys, and specified legal holidays are included in the computation of periods of eleven days or more. See F ed .R .C iv.P . 6(a); Local Rule 4.20. If the motion was se rve d by mail, add three days to the prescribed period. Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(e); Local Rule 4.20(a)(2). Service by f a c s im ile constitutes a method of hand delivery for the p u r p os e of computing the time within which any r e sp on s e is required. Local Rule 1.07(c). -4-

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1. Required Materials ­ A motion for summary judgment shall be accompanied by a memorandum of law, necessary affidavits, and a concise statement of the material facts as to which the moving party contends there is no genuine issue for trial. Each party opposing a motion for summary judgment shall file and serve, within fourteen days after being served with such motion, a legal memorandum with citation of authorities in opposition to the relief requested as required by Local Rule 3.01(b), and shall include necessary affidavits and a concise statement of the material facts as to which the opposing party contends there exists a genuine issue for trial. Both the movant and the party opposing summary judgment shall provide pinpoint citations to the pages and lines of record supporting each material fact. General references to a deposition are inadequate. Material facts set forth in the statement required to be served by the moving

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party will be deemed admitted for the purposes of the motion unless controverted by the opposing party's statement. 2. Under Advisement ­ The Court takes a motion for summary judgment under advisement twenty days from the date it is served, unless the Court orders a different date. Until that date, the party opposing summary judgment may file additional affidavits and exhibits within the purview of Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 in opposition to the mo t i o n , but not additional memoranda. Fed.R.Civ.P. 6(d) and 56(c); Local Rule 3.01(b). Unless specifically ordered, the Court will not hold a hearing on the motion. Failure to oppose any motion for summary judgment may result in the entry of a judgment for the movant without further proceedings. See Milburn v. United States, 734 F.2d 762, 765 (11th Cir. 1984); Griffith v. Wainwright, 772 F.2d 822, 825 (11th Cir. 1985) (per curiam); Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). All requirements in this order apply to pro se litigants as well as to parties represented by counsel. I. Daubert and Markman Motions ­ On or before the date established in the above table for the filing of motions for summary judgment, any party seeking a ruling pursuant to Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) (admissibility of expert opinions) or pursuant to Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 116 S.Ct. 1384 (1996) (interpretation of a patent claim) shall file and serve an appropriate motion. The parties shall prepare a glossary of technical or scientific terms where appropriate for the Court, court reporter, and trier of fact at any hearing or trial. J. All Other Motions Including Motions In Limine ­ On or before the date established above, the parties shall file and serve all other motions including motions in limine. Local Rule 3.01(g) applies, and the parties shall confer to define and limit the issues in dispute. III. JOINT FINAL STATEMENT PRETRIAL

parties shall meet together in person pursuant to Local Rule 3.06(b) in a good faith effort to: 1. settle the case; the parties shall thoroughly and exhaustively discuss settlement of the action before undertaking the extensive efforts needed to conduct final preparation of the case for trial and to comply with the requirements of this order; 2. stipulate to as many facts and issues as possible; in order to assist the Court, the parties shall make an active and substantial effort to stipulate at length and in detail as to agreed facts and law, and to limit, narrow, and simplify the issues of fact and law that remain contested; as a rule, parties who have complied with this requirement in good faith will file a Joint Final Pretrial Statement listing far more agreed facts and principles of law than those that remain for determination at trial; 3. tag, mark, identify, examine, copy, and list all original trial exhibits (including actual document exhibits) that any party will offer in evidence or otherwise tender to any witness during trial [Local Rule 3.06(b)(3) and 3.07(a)]; prepare and exchange a final exhibit list on the Clerk's approved form (attached to this order) bearing a description identifying each exhibit and sponsoring witness [Local Rule 3.07(b)]; it is anticipated that counsel will agree to the admission of the bulk of the opposing parties' exhibits without objection, and shall designate on the exhibit list the exhibits which the Court may admit without objection at trial. Absent good cause, the Court will not receive in evidence over objection any exhibits ­ including charts, diagrams, and demonstrative evidence ­ not presented to opposing counsel or unrepresented parties for inspection and copying at the required meeting, or not listed in the joint final pretrial statement. Photographs of sensitive exhibits (i.e., guns, drugs, valuables) and of non-documentary evidence, and reductions of documentary exhibits larger than 8 ½" by 14" to be substituted for original exhibits after conclusion of the trial, must be presented to opposing counsel for examination at the meeting to prepare the Joint Final Pretrial Statement. Objections to such photographs or reductions of exhibits must be listed in the Joint Final Pretrial Statement. The parties are advised
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A. Meeting In Person ­ On or before the date established in the above table, lead trial counsel for all parties and any unrepresented

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that the design of certain courtrooms may preclude the use of large exhibits and posters in a jury trial. The parties are directed to contact the trial judge's courtroom deputy to discuss exhibits and equipment to be used during trial; 4. exchange the names and addresses of all witnesses, and state whether they will likely be called; and 5. prepare a Joint Final Pretrial Statement strictly in conformance with Local Rule 3.06(c) and this order. B. The Joint Final Pretrial Statement

1. Form of Joint Final Pretrial Statement ­ On or before the date established in the above table, the parties shall file a Joint Final Pretrial Statement that strictly conforms to the requirements of Local Rule 3.06(c) and this order. This case must be fully ready for trial at the time that the Joint Final Pretrial Statement is due. Lead trial counsel for all parties, or the parties themselves if unrepresented, shall sign the Joint Final Pretrial Statement. The Court will strike pretrial statements that are unilateral, incompletely executed, or otherwise incomplete. Inadequate stipulations of fact and law will be stricken. Sanctions may be imposed for failure to comply, including the striking of pleadings. At the conclusion of the final pretrial conference, all pleadings are deemed to merge into the Joint Final Pretrial Statement, which will control the course of the trial. Local Rule 3.06(e); Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(e). 2. Exhibit List ­ The exhibit list filed in compliance with Local Rules 3.06(c)(4) and 3.07(b) must be on the Clerk's approved form (attached to this order). Unlisted exhibits will not be received into evidence at trial, except by order of the Court in the furtherance of justice. See Local Rule 3.06(e). The Joint Final Pretrial Statement must attach each party's exhibit list on the approved form listing each specific objection ("all objections reserved" does not suffice) to each numbered exhibit that remains after full discussion and stipulation. Objections not made ­ or not made with specificity ­ are waived.

3. Witness List ­ On the witness list required by Local Rule 3.06(c)(5), the parties and counsel shall designate which witnesses will likely be called, and also designate which witnesses may be called. Absent good cause, the Court will not permit testimony from unlisted witnesses at trial over objection. This restriction does not apply to true rebuttal witnesses (i.e., witnesses whose testimony could not reasonably have been foreseen to be necessary). Records custodians may be listed, but will not likely be called at trial, except in the rare event that authenticity or foundation is contested. For good cause shown in compelling circumstances, the Court may permit presentation of testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. Fed.R.Civ.P. 43(a). 4. Depositions ­ The Court encourages stipulations of fact to avoid calling unnecessary witnesses. Where a stipulation will not suffice, the Court permits the use of videotaped depositions. At the required meeting, counsel and unrepresented parties shall agree upon and specify in writing in the Joint Final Pretrial Statement the pages and lines of each deposition (except where used solely for impeachment) to be published to the trier of fact. The parties shall include in the Joint Final Pretrial Statement a page-and-line description of any testimony that remains in dispute after an active and substantial effort at resolution, together with argument and authority for each party's position. The parties shall prepare, for submission and consideration at the final pretrial conference or trial, edited and marked copies (as to the portion offered by each party) of any depositions or deposition excerpts which are to be offered in evidence. 5. Joint Jury Instructions, Verdict Form, Voir Dire Questions ­ In cases to be tried before a jury, counsel shall attach to the Joint Final Pretrial Statement a single jointly-proposed set of jury instructions, together with a single jointly-proposed jury verdict form. Local Rule 5.01(c). The parties should be considerate of their juries, and therefore should submit short, concise special verdict forms. The Court prefers pattern jury instructions approved by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. A

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party may include at the appropriate place in the single set of jointly-proposed jury instructions a contested charge, so designated with the name of the requesting party and bearing at the bottom a citation of authority for its inclusion, together with a summary of the opposing party's objection. The Court will deny outright a proposed instruction that is "slanted" in any way. The Court requests that the parties, where possible, attach to the Joint Final Pretrial Statement a virus-free computer diskette containing the single set of jury instructions and verdict form, preferably in WordPerfect® 8.0 format. Each party who wishes for the Court to ask specific questions of the venire during voir dire may also include in the Joint Final Pretrial Statement a single joint list of proposed questions. C. Coordination of Joint Final Pretrial Statement ­ All counsel and parties are responsible for filing a Joint Final Pretrial Statement in full compliance with this order. Plaintiff's counsel (or plaintiff if all parties are proceeding pro se) shall have the primary responsibility to coordinate compliance with the sections of this order that require a meeting of lead trial counsel and unrepresented parties in person, and the filing of a Joint Final Pretrial Statement and related material. See Local Rule 3.10 (relating to failure to prosecute). If the plaintiff is proceeding pro se, defense counsel shall coordinate compliance. If counsel is unable to coordinate such compliance, counsel shall timely notify the Court by written motion or request for a status conference. D. Trial Briefs and Other Materials

parties may contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk for the trial judge to determine whether this requirement may be waived. IV. MEDIATION

A. Purpose ­ To minimize costly pretrial procedures in a case that may be equitably settled, and to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of this action, all parties shall participate in good faith in court-annexed mediation. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 1; Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(a)(5); Local Rules 1.01(b), 9.01(b). Parties who prefer mediation but have been designated for arbitration may file and serve a joint motion seeking relief from arbitration. B. The Mediator ­ This Court prefers to appoint the certified and approved mediator, if any, chosen by the parties in their Case Management Report. If no such mediator has been chosen, the Court designates the default mediator listed in the above table pursuant to Local Rule 9.04. The mediator shall conduct the mediation conference in the conference room of the mediator's law firm or office at a time and date selected by the mediator within the confines of this order. C. Last Date to Mediate ­ The parties shall complete the mediation conference on or before the mediation date set forth earlier in the above table. Despite Local Rule 9.05(d), neither the mediator nor the parties have authority to continue the mediation conference beyond this date except on express order of the Court. In any Track Three case, complex case, or case involving multiple parties, the mediator has the authority to conduct the mediation in a series of sessions and in groups of parties so that mediation is complete by the last date to mediate. D. Mediator's Authority ­ The mediator shall have all powers and authority to conduct a mediation and to settle this case as are described in Chapter Nine of the Local Rules, except as limited by this order. The mediation shall continue until adjourned by the mediator. In order to coordinate the mediation conference, the mediator may set an abbreviated scheduling conference prior to the scheduled mediation. At

1. Trial Briefs ­ In the case of a non-jury trial, on or before the date established above for filing "All Other Motions and Briefs," the parties shall file and serve a trial brief with proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, together with a computer diskette where possible. The parties may file a trial brief on or before the same date in the case of a jury trial. 2. Exhibit Notebook ­ On the first day of a jury trial or non-jury trial, the parties shall provide to the Court a bench notebook containing marked copies of all exhibits. The
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such time, the mediator may designate one or more coordinating attorneys who shall be responsible for conferring with the mediator regarding the mediation conference. If necessary, the coordinating attorney may coordinate the rescheduling of a mediation conference within the time allowed in this order. E. General Rules Governing Mediation Conference 1. Case Summaries ­ Not less than two days prior to the mediation conference, each party shall deliver to the mediator a written summary of the facts and issues of the case. 2. Identification of Corporate Representative ­ As part of the written case summary, counsel for each corporate party shall state the name and general job description of the employee or agent who will attend and participate with full authority to settle on behalf of the corporate party. 3. Attendance Requirements and Sanctions ­ Each attorney acting as lead trial counsel, and each party (and in the case of a corporate party, a corporate representative) with full authority to settle, shall attend and participate in the mediation conference. In the case of an insurance company, the term "full authority to settle" means authority to settle for the full value of the claim or policy limit. The Court will impose sanctions upon lead counsel and parties who do not attend and participate in good faith in the mediation conference. 4. Authority to Declare Impasse ­ Participants shall be prepared to spend as much time as may be necessary to settle the case. No participant may force the early conclusion of a mediation because of travel plans or other engagements. Only the mediator may declare an impasse or end the mediation. 5. Restrictions on Offers to Compromise ­ Evidence of offers to compromise a claim is not admissible to prove liability for or invalidity of the claim or its amount. Fed. R. Evid. 408 (includes evidence of conduct or statements made in compromise negotiations);
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L o c a l Rule 9.07(b). All discussion, representations and statements made at the mediation conference are privileged settlement negot i a t ions. Except in a supplemental proceeding to enforce a settlement agreement, nothing related to the mediation conference shall be admitted at trial or be subject to discovery. Local Rule 9.07; Fed. R. Evid. 408. A communication between a party and a mediator during a private caucus is also confidential, unless the party tells the mediator that it is not. F. Rate of Compensation ­ The mediator shall be compensated at an hourly rate of $150, Local Rule 9.02(f), or at a rate stipulated by the parties in advance of mediation and borne equally by the parties. Upon motion of the prevailing party, the party's share may be taxed as costs in this action. G. Settlement and Report of Mediator ­ A settlement agreement reached between the parties shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties and their attorneys in the presence of the mediator. See also Local Rule 9.06(b) and 3.08. Within five days of the conclusion of the mediation conference, the mediator shall file and serve a written mediation report stating whether all required parties were present, whether the case settled, and whether the mediator was forced to declare an impasse. See Local Rule 9.06. The mediator may report any conduct of a party or counsel that falls short of a good faith effort to resolve the case by agreement. See Local Rule 9.05(e), 9.06(a). V. FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

A. Lead Trial Counsel and Parties ­ If this order does not set a final pretrial conference date, the Court may later set a final pretrial conference on notice. Lead trial counsel and local counsel f o r each party, together with any unrepresented party, must attend the final pretrial conference in person unless previously excused by the Court. See Local Rule 3.06(d); Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(d). B. Substance of Final Pretrial Conference ­ This case must be fully ready for trial at the time that the joint final pretrial statement is due. At the

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final pretrial conference, all counsel and parties must be prepared and authorized to accomplish the purposes set forth in Fed.R.Civ.P. 16 and Local Rule 3.06, including the formulation and simplification of the issues; the elimination of frivolous claims or defenses; admitting facts and d o c u me n t s to avoid unnecessary proof; stipulating to the authenticity of documents; obtaining advance rulings from the Court on the admissibility of evidence; settlement and the use of special procedures to assist in resolving the d i s p u t e; disposing of pending motions; establishing a reasonable limit on the time allowed for presenting evidence; and such other matters as may facilitate the just, speedy, and inexpensive disposition of the action. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(c)-(d). VI. SANCTIONS

not reached for trial will be carried over to the following month, and issued subpoenas will continue in force. Counsel, parties, and witnesses shall be available on twenty-four hours notice for trial after the beginning of the trial term. A different district judge or visiting judge may try the case. Local Rule 1.03(d). The case may be set for trial in the Orlando Division, Tampa Division, Fort Myers Division, Ocala Division, or Jacksonville Division of the Middle District of Florida. Local Rule 1.02(e). Absent a showing of good cause, any party whose turn it is to provide evidence will be deemed to have rested if, during the hours designated for trial, the party has no further evidence or witnesses available. B. Trial Before Magistrate Judge ­ A case scheduled for trial before a United States Magistrate Judge will be called for trial on a date certain. With respect to a civil case that remains pending before a district judge as of the date of this order, the United States District Judges of the Middle District of Florida wish to afford the parties the opportunity to consent to proceed before a magistrate judge. Consent must be unanimous. A United States Magistrate Judge is available pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 73(a) to conduct all further proceedings in this case (or specified motions in this case), to conduct a jury or non-jury trial beginning on a date certain, and to enter final judgment. A party may appeal a final judgment of a magistrate judge to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in the same manner as an appeal from the district court. 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(3); Fed.R.Civ.P. 73. A party is free to withhold consent without adverse substantive consequences. 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(2); Fed.R.Civ.P. 73(b). Consent forms are attached to this scheduling order. Fed.R.Civ.P. 73(b); Local Rule 6.05.

The Court will impose sanctions on any party or attorney: 1) who fails to attend and to actively participate in the meeting to prepare the joint pretrial statement, or who refuses to sign and file the joint pretrial statement; 2) who fails to attend the final pretrial conference, or who is substantially unprepared to participate; 3) who fails to attend the mediation and actively participate in good faith, or who attends the mediation without full authority to negotiate a settlement, or who is substantially unprepared to participate in the mediation; or 4) who otherwise fails to comply with this order. Sanctions may include reasonable attorneys fees and costs, the striking of pleadings, the entry of default, the dismissal of the case, and a finding of contempt of court. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(f) and 37; Local Rules 9.05(c), (e); 28 U.S.C. § 1927. VII. TRIAL

A. Trial Before District Judge ­ A case scheduled for trial before a United States District Judge normally will be called for trial on the first day of the trial term indicated in the above table, or as soon after that date as is possible in light of the Court's felony and civil trial calender.2 Cases

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This case may be reassigned to a visitin g district judge at any time. As stated in (continued...)
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p a ra gra p h III (B)(1) above, this case should be fully re a dy for trial at the time that the Joint Final Pretrial S ta te m e n t is due. In unusual and extraordinary c irc u m sta n c e s, the Court may re-notice this case for tr ia l shortly before the first day of the trial term if n e c e s s a ry to accommodate the trial schedule of the d istric t judge or a visiting judge.

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C. Settlement ­ Counsel shall immediately notify the Court upon settlement of any case. Local Rule 3.08. The parties are jointly and severally liable for jury costs for settlement after jurors have been notified to appear without sufficient time to cancel the appearance. Regardless of the status of settlement negotiations, the parties shall appear for all scheduled hearings, including the final pretrial conference and for trial, absent the filing of a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared in the action (or notice of dismissal if prior to answer and motion for summary judgment). Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a). DONE and ORDERED this __17th__ day of March, 2005.

Copies to: Counsel of Record/Pro Se Parties

Note: Notice re: Pre-marking of Exhibits with Exhibit List and Tags and a Magistrate Consent form can be found on the Court's website at http://www.flmd.uscourts.