Gentile, et al v. Brunswick County Sheriff's Department, et al

Filing 19

INITIAL ORDER REGARDING PLANNING AND SCHEDULING - The court denies without prejudice the motion to dispense with mediation (DE 17) as untimely. The court sets a deadline of May 31, 2013, for the making of any motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdicti on, insufficiency of process, and/or failure to state a claim. Discovery plan due by June 4, 2013. This case is set for scheduling conference by telephone on June 13, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Counsel should review the attached order in its entirety for additional critical deadlines and information. Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 04/30/2013. (Baker, C.)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA SOUTHERN DIVISION NO. 7:13-CV-81-FL ANDREW GENTILE; CHRISTINE GENTILE; and REDGATOR PAWN SHOP, Plaintiffs, v. JOHN INGRAM, in his individual and official capacity as Sheriff of Brunswick County; RYAN NEWMAN, in his individual and official capacity as a Detective for the Brunswick County Sheriffs Department; MICHAEL MURRAY, in his individual and official capacity as a Detective for the Brunswick County Sheriffs Department; BRUNSWICK COUNTY; WESTERN SURETY COMPANY; BRUNSWICK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; and MEREDITH EVERHART, in her individual capacity as an Assistant District Attorney with the Brunswick County District Attorney's Office, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) INITIAL ORDER REGARDING PLANNING AND SCHEDULING This case has been assigned to the docket of Judge Louise W. Flanagan, and having reviewed the matters of record, where the answer (DE 10) presages certain preliminary motion( s) for dismissal predicated upon Rule 12, the court sets a deadline of May 31, 2013, for the making of any motion to dismiss for lack ofjurisdiction, insufficiency of process, and/or failure to state a claim. The court denies without prejudice the motion to dispense with mediation (DE 17) as untimely. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(t), the court sets the following deadlines and requirements for conference activities, initial disclosures, and submission of the parties' joint status report and proposed plan for discovery. Pursuant to Rule 16(b), this case is set for scheduling conference by telephone on June 13, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. (E.S.T.). I. Rule 26(t) Conference The Rule 26(t) conference must occur on or before twenty-one (21) days from entry of this order. The parties through counsel jointly are responsible for arranging the conference and for attempting in good faith to agree on a proposed plan for completion of discovery, filing of motions, pretrial and trial activities, and other matters addressed in this order. II. Initial Disclosures Mandatory initial disclosures required by Rule 26(a)(1) must be made within fourteen (14) days after the Rule 26(t) conference, unless (a) a different time is set by stipulation of the parties or court order; or (b) a party objects during the Rule 26(t) conference and states the objection and the response thereto in the report and plan filed with the court. Absent a stipulation or court order, any party first served or otherwise joined after the conference must make these disclosures within thirty (30) days after being served or joined. Failure to disclose information required by Rule 26(a) or 26(e)(l) may subject the offending party or parties to sanctions pursuant to Rule 37. In order to facilitate settlement negotiations and to avoid unnecessary expense, the parties may agree that, without any need for formal requests for production, copies of the various documents and/or electronically stored information described in the parties' Rule 26(a)(l) disclosures shall be exchanged or made available for inspection and copying by a date certain. 2 III. Joint Report and Plan The report and plan shall be filed with the court within fourteen (14) days after the conference. The report and plan shall inform of the date on which the Rule 26(t) conference took place, persons participating therein, list all persons serving as lead counsel who are required to attend the Rule 16(b) telephone conference to which reference is made in Section IV below, and provide telephone numbers for these individuals. The following must be considered at the Rule 26(t) conference and also included in the report and plan: A. Discussion of the nature and complexity of the case. 1 This shall be presented in the form of a brief statement which contains information from all parties and presents their respective positions including: 1. The asserted basis for the court's subject matter jurisdiction; 2. The most important or key factual issues and legal issues that are believed to be involved in the case; and 3. B. A breakdown of damages sought. Specific information concerning the parties' plan for discovery, including: 1. The subjects on which discovery may be needed; 2. Whether discovery shall be conducted in phases and/or limited to or 1 Routine cases generally subscribe to a track which permits disposition within twelve (12) to fourteen (14) months after the filing of the complaint, where parties are joined within two months after conference, any amendments to pleadings as of right or subject to motion are made within two months, initial motions to dismiss are made within three months, all discovery is completed within six to eight months after conference, and dispositive motions filed within one month after the close of discovery, also in accordance with Local Civil Rule 7.1(a). A complex case subscribes to an extended track, taking into consideration large numbers ofparties, large numbers ofclaims and defenses, highly technical issues and proof, multiple experts, greater than normal amounts of documents and evidence, and/or necessity for an extended period of discovery. A complex case contemplates trial within sixteen ( 16) to eighteen ( 18) months of the filing of the complaint. 3 focused upon particular issues; 3. The categories of discovery to be utilized by the parties, and proposed limitations; 4. Whether there are any issues relating to disclosure or discovery of electronically stored information, including issues as to the form(s) in which such information shall be produced; 5. Whether there are any issues relating to claims of privilege of protection as trial-preparation material; 6. 7. C. The date on which all discovery shall be concluded; and Whether any particular discovery problems are anticipated. Proposed deadlines in addition to the deadline for discovery mentioned above, including for: 1. Disclosure of expert witness information where appropriate; 2. Joining additional parties; 3. Amending pleadings; 4. Filing of all motions, including dispositive ones (except motions in limine). 5. Setting of the pretrial conference; and 6. Establishment of the trial date (the parties shall inform whether the trial will be jury or non-jury). The court expects to set a definite trial date for this case which does not conflict with criminal case settings. When addressing the proposed trial date, counsel may inform of 4 complications requested to be considered in this setting. D. The possibility of settlement and the parties' information concerning which procedure (mediated settlement conference, arbitration, summary trial, or other) is appropriate. See Local Civil Rule 101 et seq. 1. Certain categories of civil cases automatically are selected for mediated settlement conference, which must occur prior to close of the discovery period. Local Civil Rule 101.1a(a),(b). The parties shall in accordance with Local Civil Rule 101.1 a(b ), discuss their mediation plans at the Rule 26(f) conference and report their plans in the joint report and plan. Any request for exemption from automatic mediation shall be raised in the joint report and plan, instead of by motion as contemplated by Local Civil Rule 10 1.a(e). 2. Even if the case is not automatically selected for mediated settlement conference, the parties still shall discuss and report upon their proposed settlement procedures where, ordinarily, a settlement procedure appropriate to a particular case shall be used in every civil action in advance of the final pretrial conference. Agreements reached regarding settlement procedures also shall be included in the joint report and plan. E. The parties' position on whether a magistrate judge may conduct all proceedings, including trial and entry of judgment, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ยง 636(c) (including entry of final judgment, with any appeal directly to the 5 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals), and Local Civil Rule 73 .1. Answer Yes or No only. F. If another case is pending of or relating to the instant matter, raising potential issues of consolidation or assignment, the report also shall provide notice of this. The parties shall identify the other case(s), and provide their position as to whether consolidation of the actions is or may become appropriate, and!or whether assignment now of related cases to a single judge is likely to result in administrative efficiencies. G. Any scheduling issue affecting counsel or the parties. This report affords the opportunity to announce compelling personal or professional considerations, as appropriate, which may affect the scheduling or course of proceedings. If the parties have made a good faith attempt to confer and submit a joint discovery plan, but have been unable to do so, the parties shall file separate plans within the allotted time period, each of which must include the parties' respective positions and information as would be included in a joint report. IV. Rule 16(b) Scheduling Conference Attendance of each party through lead counsel is required at the pretrial conference by telephone, set herein before the undersigned on June 13,2013 at 1:30 p.m. This proceeding likely is set in this case on a date on which the court is conducting a series of similar pretrial conferences at anticipated thirty (30) minute intervals. An order shall be entered immediately after this conference reflecting results premised upon the court's consideration of the parties' representations in the report and plan, and the issues considered at said conference. Case deadlines 6 established among the terms of the order will not be altered by the court absent extenuating circumstances. SO ORDERED, this the 30th day of April, 2013. ~~'l\~~s====~ ~LANAGAN United States District Court Judge 7

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