RULE 4:5B. Case Management; Conferences
4:5B-1. Assignment for Case Management
At the time the complaint is filed, the action shall be assigned to a designated judge, who shall, except as otherwise provided byR. 4:24-1(c), preside over all pretrial motions and management conferences in the cause until completion of discovery as provided byR.4:36-2. Any application made to the court thereafter shall be made to the Civil Presiding Judge or designee. In Track IV and general equity cases, however, the designated managing judge shall, insofar as is practicable and absent exceptional circumstances, also preside at trial.
Note: Adopted July 5, 2000 to be effective September 5, 2000; amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; amended July 28, 2004 to be effective September 1, 2004.
4:5B-2. Case Management Conferences
In cases assigned to Tracks I, II, and III, the designated pretrial judge maysua sponteor on a party's request conduct a case management conference if it appears that such a conference will assist discovery, narrow or define the issues to be tried, address issues relating to discovery of electronically stored information, or otherwise promote the orderly and expeditious progress of the case. A case management conference shall not, however, ordinarily be conducted after the case is ready for trial. In Track IV cases, except for actions in lieu of prerogative writs and probate and general equity actions, an initial case management conference shall be conducted as soon as practicable after joinder and, absent exceptional circumstances, within 60 days thereafter. In actions in lieu of prerogative writs, case management conferences shall be held pursuant to R. 4:69-4. In probate actions, case management conferences may be scheduled at the discretion of the judge. In all actions in general equity, except summary actions pursuant to R.4:67 and foreclosure actions, an initial case management conference shall be held within 30 days following the filing of the answers of all defendants initially joined, and the court may hold such additional case management conferences as it deems appropriate. All decisions and directives issued at a case management conference shall be memorialized by order as required by R. 1:2-6. The order may include provisions for disclosure of discovery of electronically stored information and any agreements the parties reach for asserting claims of privilege or protection as trial preparation material after production.
Note: Adopted July 5, 2000 to be effective September 5, 2000; amended July 28, 2004 to be effective September 1, 2004; amended July 27, 2006 to be effective September 1, 2006.
4:5B-3. Settlement Conferences
The court may conduct a settlement conference or schedule any other settlement event in any civil action on its or a party's request. Except in Track IV cases, there shall be no more than one court-initiated or court-mandated settlement conference or other settlement event prior to the trial date. Notwithstanding the conduct of a settlement conference or other settlement event as herein provided, a second settlement conference may be conducted on the trial date and immediately prior to the commencement of trial, provided that trial shall then forthwith proceed if settlement is not reached. The settlement conference need not be conducted by the designated pretrial judge.
