Local Rule LRCiv 16.2: DIFFERENTIATED CASE MANAGEMENT
D. Ariz. — Civil rule
LRCiv 16.2 DIFFERENTIATED CASE MANAGEMENT
(a) Statement of Purpose and Scope of Authority. Pursuant to the Civil Justice Reform Act, 28 U.S.C § 471 et seq., the United States District Court for the District of Arizona has established a Differentiated Case Management ("DCM") system to screen cases for complexity, assign cases to specific tracks based on that complexity, and manage cases to disposition according to predetermined milestones established for the respective tracks.
(b) Tracks. Unless otherwise ordered by the assigned District Judge or Magistrate Judge, the type of cases identified in the following tracks must be assigned as follows:
(1) Expedited Track.
(A) Assignment.
(i) Cases are assigned to this track based on nature of suit, and are those that usually are resolved on the pleadings. Expedited Track cases include:
Bankruptcy appeals; Social Security appeals; Student Loan, Veteran's Benefits, and other recovery actions; Forfeiture/Penalty actions; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) actions; Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation actions; Summons and Subpoena Enforcement actions.
(ii) Other cases may be assigned to this track based on complexity. Such determination may be made either by the parties at filing, or by the Court at a preliminary scheduling conference.
(iii) A case in a nature of suit listed in (i) above, but which may have more complex issues or facts, may likewise be assigned to another track.
(B) Management. A preliminary scheduling conference is not required; however, a scheduling order will issue.
(2) Detainee Track.
(A) Assignment. All cases filed by criminal or civil detainees are assigned to this track and are administered by the Staff Attorneys' Office.
(B) Management.
(i) Habeas Corpus and Mandamus Actions. A service order will set the briefing schedule.
(ii) All Other Actions Filed by Pro Se Detainees. A service order will set the maximum date to effect service as the limit set in Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or sixty (60) days from filing of the service order, whichever is later. When the first defendant makes an appearance in the action, a scheduling order will issue setting:
(I) a discovery cutoff one-hundred fifty (150) days from the date the scheduling order issues; and (II) a dispositive motion filing deadline one-hundred eighty (180) days from the date the scheduling order issues.
(iii) Detainee Actions Filed by an Attorney. After a screening order issues, the Court may assign these cases to the Standard Track.
(3) Standard Track.
(A) Assignment. Cases that do not meet the criteria of the Expedited or Detainee tracks, and are not determined to be complex, are assigned to this track.
(B) Management.
(i) A preliminary scheduling conference, pursuant to Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, will be scheduled within one-hundred eighty (180) days of filing, and conducted by the assigned District Judge or designee, or the assigned Magistrate Judge.
(ii) If the assigned District Judge or Magistrate Judge is unable to try the case on the date set for trial, the case may be referred to the Chief Judge for reassignment to any available District Judge or Magistrate Judge.
(4) Complex Track.
(A) Assignment. Complex cases are those which require extensive judicial involvement, and will be so designated by the District Judge or Magistrate Judge, counsel, and parties.
(B) Management. A preliminary scheduling conference will be conducted before the assigned District Judge or Magistrate Judge for all cases on this Complex track, and an initial scheduling order, in accordance with Rule 16(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, will issue following the conference.
(C) Multidistrict litigation. An attorney filing a complaint, answer, or other pleading in a case that may involve multidistrict litigation (see 28 U.S.C. § 1407), must file with the pleading a paper describing the nature of the case listing the title(s) and number(s) of any other related case(s) filed in this or other jurisdictions.