Wilkinson, et al v. USA, et al

Filing 46

ORDER: Final Pretrial Conference set for 4/9/2007 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 2 before Magistrate Judge Charles S. Miller, Jr.By Judge Charles S. Miller Jr. (Attachments: # 1 Sample Pretrial Statement# 2 Sample Exhibit List)(BG)Distributed on 6/19/2006 (lcar, ).

Wilkinson, et al v. USA, et al

Doc. 46

Case 1:03-cv-00002-RSW-CSM

Document 46

Filed 06/19/2006

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NORTH DAKOTA SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION Virgil Wilkinson, Charles Wilkinson, Alva Rose Hall, Wilbur D. Wilkinson, for themselves and as heirs of Ernest Wilkinson, Mollie Wilkinson, Harry Wilkinson, and Virginia Wilkinson, ) ) ) ) ) ) ORDER FOR FINAL PRETRIAL Plaintiffs, ) CONFERENCE ) vs. ) ) United States of America, ) ) Case No. 1:03-cv-002 Defendant. ) ______________________________________________________________________________ IT IS ORDERED: A final pretrial conference will be held before the magistrate judge at the U.S. Courthouse in Bismarck, North Dakota, on April 9, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. The conference shall be attended by lead counsel for each party, with authorization to bind the party on all matters addressed at the conference. PRIOR TO PRETRIAL Prior to the date of the final pretrial conference, counsel shall confer in person or by telephone for the purpose of preparing a joint Final Pretrial Statement and examining and marking exhibits as detailed below: Preparing Final Pretrial Statement and Stipulations: Counsel will jointly prepare for presentation to the court at pretrial a Final Pretrial Statement in substantially the same form as the attached sample. Rule 26(a)(3) disclosures shall be incorporated in the Final Pretrial Statement. The jointly prepared Final Pretrial Statement shall be submitted to the 1

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magistrate judge (but not filed) for approval by no later than two days prior to the Final Pretrial Conference. It should either be mailed to P.O. Box 670, Bismarck, ND 58502-0670, or e-mailed to [e-mail]. Counsel are not required to stipulate or waive anything. They are required to confer in advance of the conference and prepare and sign a Final Pretrial Statement covering the matters set out in this order for pretrial conference for presentation to the court at the final pretrial conference. If counsel are able to stipulate uncontested facts and stipulate admissibility of exhibits or at least waiver of foundation for exhibits, it will expedite the trial of the case. Counsel are expected to waive foundation for exhibits, unless there is a strong, specific objection to a particular exhibit. The Final Pretrial Statement will be signed by all counsel, signifying acceptance, and upon approval of the court, with such additions as are necessary, will be signed by the court as an order reflecting the final pretrial conference. Marking Exhibits: Counsel are directed to complete the physical marking and numbering of all papers and objects expected to be introduced as exhibits. The exhibits are to be marked with an exhibit sticker. All exhibits in the case are to be numbered consecutively using a "P" for plaintiff and "D" for defendant (for example P1-P20, D21-D40), and listed in the form of the attached sample (including horizontal and vertical lines as indicated). Counsel will retain the exhibits in their possession but shall submit the list as an attachment to the Final Pretrial Statement. Counsel must disclose and list all exhibits relating to an issue on which their client has the burden of proof or the burden of going forward with the evidence. Each listed exhibit

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shall be designated as "will offer" or "may offer." Documents to be used solely for rebuttal purposes need not be numbered or listed until identified at trial. Failure to list an exhibit required by this order to be listed or to disclose such exhibit to adverse counsel will result, except upon a showing of good cause, in the nonadmissibility of the exhibit into evidence at the trial. Each party shall make its exhibits available for inspection by other parties prior to the pretrial conference. The non-offering party shall list in the final pretrial statement any objections to admissibility of exhibits by the offering party. Objections not so disclosed (other than objections under Federal Rules of Evidence 402 and 403) shall be deemed waived unless excused by the Court for good cause shown. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3). FOLLOWING PRETRIAL AND PRIOR TO TRIAL Trial Memorandum: Counsel for the respective parties shall file a trial memorandum with proof of service upon opposing counsel with the clerk, for presentment to the court, at least five (5) working days before the commencement of trial. The trial memorandum shall contain: A general statement of the case, citation of the authority upon which the party relies on unresolved legal issues, a general statement of the evidence to be offered, and a statement of any evidentiary or procedural problem expected to arise, with citations of authority. Depositions: At least 14 days before trial the offering party shall file and serve a designation of those portions of any depositions which will be presented at trial, and the manner in which each of those depositions was recorded. A transcript of the pertinent portions of any deposition not stenographically recorded shall accompany the designation. The other parties

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shall have until 7 days before trial to designate additional portions of any deposition appearing on the offering party's list. Any party who objects to admissibility of deposition testimony to be offered shall have until 4 days prior to trial to file a list of objections it intends to preserve. All other objections will be deemed waived. Counsel shall then confer prior to commencement of the trial to edit the depositions. As to any deposition which may be used only if the need arises (other than solely for impeachment purposes), the offering party shall notify the court and other parties at least 48 hours in advance that it will be offering the deposition at trial, and identify the portions to be offered. The other parties shall then have 24 hours to identify additional portions and to preserve any objections to admissibility of the deposition testimony. Objections not specifically preserved will be deemed waived. Counsel shall then confer prior to the offering of the deposition to edit the testimony. Jury Instructions: In jury cases, an agreed upon set of jury instructions and verdict form shall be submitted to the court seven (7) working days prior to trial. The original shall be filed with the clerk and a copy sent to the trial judge along with a computer disk version, if possible, in WordPerfect 10 format. A party requesting an instruction upon which counsel cannot agree should submit that instruction, along with a statement of authority to the court. There is reserved to counsel the right to supplement requests for instructions during the course of the trial, or at the conclusion of the evidence, on matters that cannot reasonably be anticipated. Motions in Limine: Motions in limine shall be filed at least thirty (30) days prior to trial unless otherwise instructed by the court.

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Failure to Appear/Comply: Failure of counsel to appear at any scheduled final pretrial conference, or otherwise to comply with the provisions of this order, may result in dismissal or default, as may be appropriate. Dated this 19th day of June, 2006. /s/ Charles S. Miller, Jr. Charles S. Miller, Jr. United States Magistrate Judge

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