Tolland JD - Civil Standing Orders
Honorable Jonathan J. Kaplan, A.J.

Jury Trial Management Orders

Trial has been scheduled in the above captioned case. One week prior to the commencement of jury selection, counsel and pro se parties are to file with the court a joint trial management conference report providing the following information:

1. A joint non-argumentative description of the case suitable for reading to the jury panel, including the names and places of residence of the parties and the date, place and nature of the incident in issue. The description must contain no more than seventy-five words.

2. A joint list of issues which are in dispute.

3.A joint list of pending motions (including motions to amend), pending requests for discovery and proposed motions in limine.

4. A stipulation of facts not in dispute which can become a joint exhibit. This will not preclude testimony that counsel believe is relevant for its descriptive nature.

5. A list of all witnesses reasonably expected to be called by each party, in sequence in which they will be called, including the name and the relationship of each witness to the case (e.g. party, eyewitness, expert) and whether there is a scheduling problem as to the testimony of any such witness. Rebuttal witnesses, i.e., those whose testimony is meant to rehabilitate explain, qualify, negate or contradict that which has been presented during the defendant’s case need not be listed by the plaintiff. Likewise surrebuttal witnesses, i.e., those whose testimony is meant to refute the plaintiff’s rebuttal evidence, need not be listed by the defendant.

6. A joint estimate of the days required for jury selection and the days required for trial.

7. Proposed verdict forms and proposed interrogatories to the jury.

8. If the case settles before trial, counsel should immediately notify the Caseflow Coordinator at 896-4926. If it less than 24 hours before the start of jury selection, then counsel must also notify the Assistant Clerk at 896-4923 or 896-4924 if unable to reach the Caseflow Coordinator. Counsel must also file withdrawals or stipulated judgments upon settlement. Failure to do so prior to the trial date may result in sanctions being imposed.

On the first day of trial, counsel and pro se parties shall determine who is to be the clerk for their case; they shall meet with the clerk one-half hour before the Judge is to open court to pre-mark exhibits. Plaintiff’s exhibits are marked by letters of the alphabet. Defendant’s exhibits are marked by numbers. Also on the first day of jury selection, counsel are to make a preliminary submission of non-standard requests to charge.

By the end of the first day of jury selection, counsel are to resolve issues of redaction of documents which either party will attempt to introduce. If some issues cannot be resolved, parties are to submit to the court immediately following completion of jury selection, a specific list of the items of redaction that are still in dispute.

All witnesses on direct examination are to be familiar with documents from which they expect to testify. This will avoid the necessity of their taking the time to read them when they are actually testifying.

Failure to comply with these orders may result in a judgment of non-suit, default, exclusion of exhibits or witnesses at trial or other sanctions.

Per order of the Honorable Jonathan J. Kaplan

Standing Orders