8.1 In all civil cases (both jury and non-jury), when the case is scheduled for trial the Court will also schedule a pre-trial conference to be held approximately four to eight weeks before the trial date.

8.2 At the pre-trial conference, trial counsel for each party shall appear in person, with his or her schedule calendar, or by substitute counsel who must have authority to speak for trial counsel in all respects regarding the case, and who must be familiar with trial counsel's schedule.

8.3 All discovery is to be completed not less than twenty days before the pre-trial conference, unless the Court has expressly authorized a different date for completion of discovery.

8.4 Not less than ten days before the pre-trial conference, counsel shall file with the clerk and serve upon opposing counsel a single document titled “pre-trial compliance”, which must contain the following:

8.5 All pending motions will be heard at the pre-trial conference. Motions may be noticed for hearing at the pre-trial conference, provided however that no motion shall be filed or served upon opposing counsel less than five days before the pre-trial conference. Time permitting, the Court will consider and rule upon objections in evidentiary depositions at the pre-trial conference.

8.6 At the pre-trial conference, counsel shall produce the original of all proposed trial exhibits and make same available for identification and for examination by the Court and by opposing counsel. To the extent practical, the clerk will mark and identify proposed trial exhibits at the pre-trial conference, but the Court will not rule on the admissibility of exhibits at the pre-trial conference except in the absence of objection.

8.7 Counsel appearing at the pre-trial conference will be expected to be familiar with the case and shall be prepared to discuss the issues of law and fact which are in controversy, the anticipated length of the trial, the likelihood of settlement, and anticipated procedural or evidentiary issues.

8.8 Following the completion of the pre-trial conference, the Court will enter a “Pre-Trial Conference Order” which, inter alia, will: reflect stipulations of counsel and rulings of the Court at the pre-trial conference; confirm or reschedule the date for trial; impose such further discovery deadlines as the Court may deem appropriate; impose deadlines for the taking of evidentiary depositions; and impose a deadline for the filing of any further motions.

8.9 Since it is the Court's belief that full compliance with these pre-trial conference rules will greatly facilitate the disposition of cases, relief from the provisions of these rules will be granted only upon good cause shown.