Federal Judiciary

"Blatant disregard" of the local rules of meeting and conferring

By Michael Smith

Think maybe you ought to read the new local rules on meeting and conferring?  Today Judge Ward issued this order denying a motion to compel.  It read (in its entirety):
Before the court is Defendant?s Motion to Compel (Dkt. No. 22). Defendant has filed this discovery motion with blatant disregard for the local rules on meeting and conferring. Defendant?s Motion is, therefore, DENIED. Further violation of the local rules or orders of this court will result in severe sanctions, up to, and including, a bar from practicing in this district.
This case has three attorneys, none from the Eastern District and none with local counsel.  The certificate of conference simply stated that the filing party had sent the other side a letter asking for certain documents and they were not produced (which would have been insufficient even under the former rule).

Full post as published by Eastern District of Texas Federal Court Practice on September 19, 2008 (boomark / email).