Lancaster Cnty. C.P. Judge Leonard G. Brown III - Judge's Procedures 2

Only witnesses listed may be called during the

case-in-chief. Requests during trial for offers of proof will not ordinarily be

entertained with respect to listed witnesses; counsel are expected to clarify any

uncertainties concerning the substance of proposed testimony in advance of trial,

by conferring with opposing counsel.

C. Final Pretrial Conference. A final pretrial conference will ordinarily be held shortly

before trial. It shall be attended by trial counsel, who must be either authorized or empowered to

make binding decisions concerning settlement, or able to obtain such authority by telephone in

the course of the conference. In addition to exploring the final positions of the parties regarding

settlement, the court will consider at the conference some or all of the following:

The simplification of the issues, the necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings, the

separation of issues, the desirability of an impartial medical examination, the limitation of the

number of expert witnesses, the probable length of the trial, the desirability of trial briefs,

evidentiary questions, the submission of points for charge, and such other matters as may aid in

the trial or other disposition of the action.

D. Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Trial and Preparation for Trial.

1. Requests for Jury Instructions. Requests for jury instructions are not required with

respect to familiar points of law not in dispute between the parties. As to such matters,

counsel should consider simply listing the subject desired to be covered in the charge

(e.g., negligence, proximate cause, assumption of risk, burden of proof, credibility, etc.),

unless specific phraseology is deemed important in the particular case. With respect to

non-routine legal issues, requests for instructions should be accompanied by appropriate

citations of legal authorities. All requests for instructions shall be submitted in writing, in

duplicate, at chambers; unless the judge orders otherwise, such requests shall be filed ten

(10) days before commencement of the trial in electronic form in MS Word format to

Judge_Brown_Chambers@lancastercountypacourt.gov, but amendments or supplements

may be submitted at the close of the evidence.

2. Special Interrogatories. Proposals concerning the form of special interrogatories to

the jury shall be submitted at such time as may be specified by the judge; in the absence

of specific direction, such proposals shall be submitted at the earliest convenient time,

and not later than the close of the evidence.