(1) A discovery and status conference shall be held in each case for the purpose of scheduling each event in the case and determining the period of time necessary to complete discovery. The conference shall be set within fifteen (15) days after service of the last responsive pleading or the last day a responsive pleading could have been served. A date for a pretrial conference shall be set for a date not more than sixty (60) days following the discovery and status conference and a trial date shall be set not more than thirty (30) days after the pretrial conference. However, in the discretion of the trial judge these times may be extended or reduced to meet the needs of the individual case.

(2) Motions for exceptions to the rules of the economical litigation docket relating to discovery must be made at the discovery and status conference.

(3) All parties shall be represented at the discovery and status conference and shall be prepared to have firm dates set for the pretrial conference and the trial.