A.) SCHEDULING CONFERENCE-After service of the Complaint, the
Judge assigned to the case may make a scheduling order. The Judge may make the
order after consulting with all counsel of record at a scheduling conference,
which may be conducted in person or by telephone with the Judge or court staff.
Unless excused by the court, trial counsel shall be present at the conference.
B). PRETRIAL – The Court may hold a pretrial conference in
all civil cases. The pretrial conference shall be held for the purpose of
achieving the objectives of Rule 16 of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.
1. The pretrial shall be held at such time and place as the
Court shall direct. The Court shall give ordinary notice, by
mail, of time and place to all counsel or pro se parties involved.
2. The presence of all parties and trial counsel is required at the
pretrial unless specifically waived by the Court after a written request. If
any party is a corporation, or other artificial legal entity, then a
representative of that party, its insurance carrier, other than counsel for
the party, must be present with complete authority to settle the case. If an
insurance carrier is involved a representative of the carrier with full
authority to settle shall attend. This Rule shall also apply to the final
pretrial and/or status conference unless specifically waived by the Court.
This Rule does not apply to the initial scheduling conference.
3. The parties shall submit to the Court at the pretrial of all civil
actions a pretrial statement substantially in compliance with the
format set forth in the appendix 1.1 below.
4. Statements of the parties or their representatives
made during the pretrial conference shall not be binding upon the parties
unless expressly made so by written stipulation or reflected by the Court’s
pretrial order.
5. If a party, counsel or insurance representative fails
to appear at the pretrial conference the Court may hear evidence and decide
the case or impose other appropriate sanctions, including dismissal.
C. A final pretrial/status conference may be set by the Court. Such
conference shall be governed by the pretrial conditions set forth in this Rule,
except that no additional formal pretrial statement need be submitted. The
parties shall be prepared to discuss with the Court their final demand/offer for
settlement.
D. Prior to both the initial pretrial conference and the final
pretrial/status conference the parties shall exchange written demands and offers
of settlement and have copies for the court at the conference.