N.D. Ind. L.R. 16-1

(a) Initial Pretrial Conference. In all cases not exempted under subsection (c) of this

rule, the court may order the parties to appear for an initial pretrial conference.

(b) Notice from Clerk. A clerk-issued notice directing the parties to prepare for and

appear at a pretrial conference is a court order for purposes of Fed. R. Civ. P.

16(a).

(c) Exemptions. The following cases are exempt from the requirements of Fed. R.

Civ. P. 16(b):

(1) Actions to review an administrative record;

(2) Petitions for habeas corpus or other proceedings to challenge a criminal

conviction or sentence;

(3) Civil forfeitures;

(4) Actions by the United States to recover benefit payments;

(5) Actions by the United States to collect on a student loan it guaranteed;

(6) Actions to enforce or quash an administrative summons or subpoena;

(7) Mortgage foreclosures if the United States is a party;

(8) Proceedings ancillary to proceedings in another court; and

(9) Actions to enforce, vacate, or modify an arbitration award.

(d) Planning-Meeting Report. When the court orders an initial pretrial conference,

the parties must file a Report of the Parties’ Planning Meeting following their Fed.

R. Civ. P. 26(f) planning meeting. The report must be consistent with the form on

the court’s website (www.innd.uscourts.gov). The court may adopt all or some of

the report as part of its scheduling order.

(e) Preparation for Pretrial Conferences. Parties must confer before each pretrial

conference and must be prepared to address the following matters at the

conference:

(1) case-management plan issues;

(2) alternative-dispute-resolution processes, including mediation, early

neutral evaluation, and mini-trial;

(3) settlement, including their present positions on settlement;

(4) trial readiness; and

(5) any other matters specifically directed by the court.

(f) Settlement Negotiations.

(1) Facilitation at Pretrial Conferences. The court may facilitate settlement

negotiations at any pretrial conference after an initial conference.

Accordingly, attorneys attending a pretrial conference after the initial

conference must:

(A) know their settlement authority; and

(B) be prepared to negotiate in good faith at the conference.

(2) Attendance by Parties. To assist settlement discussions, the court may

require a party, a corporate party’s agent, or an insurance-company

representative to appear at a pretrial conference.

(3) Disclosure Prohibited. The court may not disclose the details of any

negotiations at a pretrial conference in an order or docket entry.

(g) Settlement or Resolution. The parties must immediately notify the court if they

reasonably expect to settle the case or resolve a pending motion.