NCJ Number
195107
Date Published
2001
Length
475 pages
Annotation
Approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States at its March 2001 session, this manual reflects the varied experiences of district and magistrate judges in presenting case-management practices in civil litigation.
Abstract
The manual's first six sections follow the chronology of a civil case, beginning with techniques for monitoring service of process and concluding with the management of trials. A discussion of the early and ongoing control of the pretrial process addresses the establishment of early case management control and the prompting of counsel to give early attention to the case. The section on setting and monitoring a case management plan addresses consultation with lawyers and unrepresented parties, scheduling a Rule 16 conference, setting a case management plan through the Rule 16 conference, and the scheduling order and calendar management. A discussion of discovery management focuses on techniques for managing discovery, the anticipation and forestalling of discovery problems, limiting discovery, handling discovery disputes, computer-based discovery, and management tools for computer-based discovery. Other sections in the chronology of civil case management feature pretrial motions management, judicial settlement and alternative dispute resolution, and the final pretrial conference and trial planning. Remaining sections of the manual turn to more specialized matters, including mass tort, class action, and complex cases; the management of expert evidence; high profile cases; pro se cases; personnel resources in litigation management; and institutional issues in litigation management. Appended sample forms, guidelines for ensuring fair and effective court-annexed alternative dispute resolution, local rules and forms for a differentiated case management system, sample statistical reports, a table of statutes, a table of rules, and a 195-item bibliography