(a) Scheduling Order
Following the filing of an answer or upon motion of a party, the Court shall issue its scheduling order, which will set forth deadlines, hearing dates, and limitations on discovery. Other pre-trial requirements are found in the addendum to the scheduling order located in Appendix L-7016-a of these Rules. The scheduling order may not be amended without permission of the Court, but any extension of the discovery deadline up until ten (10) days before the deadline for filing pre-trial orders will be deemed granted upon filing of a statement of consent signed by all parties.
(b) Motion Practice in Adversary Proceedings
Except as otherwise provided in L. Rules 7012 and 7056, L. Rules 9013 and 9014 apply to non-dispositive motion practice in adversary proceedings except that (i) the deadline for filing a response is reduced to ten (10) days, and (ii) service of the motion is limited to all counsel and pro se parties in the adversary proceeding. If a response is not timely filed, the relief requested may be granted without further notice and hearing.
(c) Discovery
Discovery conducted in adversary proceedings shall not be filed with the Clerk.
(d) Pre-Trial Conferences
Unless otherwise provided in the scheduling order, a pre-trial conference will not be held. A pre-trial conference may be scheduled upon written motion or upon the Court's own motion.
(e) Briefs
Unless otherwise provided in the scheduling order, any legal briefs to be considered by the Court at the trial on the merits of an adversary complaint shall be filed contemporaneously with the pre-trial order, but as a separate document with service on all counsel and pro se parties.
(f) Exhibits and Number of Copies Required
(1) All exhibits that are to be used in a hearing on the merits shall bear an exhibit marker, and be bound in booklet form which will lay flat when opened. Exhibits shall be separately tabbed and identified by a numerical sequence, and shall be indexed at the front of each exhibit book or books.
(2) Plaintiff’s (or movant’s) exhibits shall be marked with the letter “P,” followed by a dash, followed by a number; for example, Exhibit P-3. If there are multiple plaintiffs, then each exhibit shall be marked with the letter “P,” followed by the specific plaintiff’s name, followed by a dash, followed by a number; for example, Exhibit P Jones-3, Exhibit P Smith, Inc.-1. Defendant’s (or respondent’s) exhibits shall be marked with the letter “D,” followed by a dash, followed by a number; for example, Exhibit D-2. If there are multiple defendants, then the system for multiple plaintiffs shall apply. The letter "G" shall in all cases be assigned to the Government for identification purposes. The letter “I” shall be used to designate the exhibits of any intervenor.
(3) Copies of the exhibits, bound, tabbed, and marked, shall be provided to each party not less than five (5) calendar days prior to trial.
(4) Exhibits shall not be filed with the Clerk prior to trial. Counsel will provide no fewer than five exhibit books at the time of trial: one each for the Judge, the Clerk, the witness stand, and one for each party's counsel.
(5) Failure to comply with the exhibit form and exchange requirements may result in the refusal of the Court to admit exhibits into evidence, or in sanctions.