LCR 16. Pretrial Deadlines and Procedures

(a) Pretrial Procedures- Civil Cases and Family Law Cases Not Involving Children.

(1) Mandatory Joint Confirmation of Trial Readiness.

Parties shall complete a Joint Confirmation of Trial Readiness form, file it with the clerk, and provide a working copy to the assigned judge by the deadline on the case schedule. Failure to complete and file the form by the deadline may result in sanctions, including possible dismissal of this case. The Joint Confirmation of Trial Readiness Report shall include, at minimum:

(A) Type of trial and estimated trial length;

(B) Trial week attorney conflicts;

(C) Interpreter needs;

(D) To what extent alternative dispute resolution has been used in the case;

(E) Any other factors to assist the court to bring about a just, speedy, and economical resolution of the matter.

(b) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) All cases. See also LCR 4.

(1) Unless excused by (1) an order signed by the judge to whom a case is assigned or (2) a family law commissioner in the case of a family law matter, or (3) the Order Setting Case Schedule issued does not, itself, provide for a deadline for participating in ADR, the parties in every case governed by an order setting case schedule as set forth by LCR 4(b) shall participate in a settlement conference or other alternative dispute resolution process conducted by a neutral third party.

(2) Preparation for Conference.

(A) Attendance and Preparation Required. The attorney in charge of each party's case shall personally attend all alternative resolution proceedings and shall come prepared to discuss in detail and in good faith the following:

(i) All liability issues.

(ii) All items of special damages or property damage.

(iii) The degree, nature and duration of any claimed disability.

(iv) General damages. (v) Explanation of position on settlement.

(B) Family Law Cases--Requirements. See LFLR 16.

(3) Parties to Be Available.

(A) Presence in Person. The parties shall personally attend all alternative resolution processes, unless excused, in advance, by the person conducting the proceeding.

(B) Representative of Insurer. Parties whose defense is provided by a liability insurance company need not personally attend the settlement conference or other dispute resolution process, but a representative of the insurer of said parties, if such a representative is available in King County, shall attend in person with sufficient authority to bind the insurer to a settlement. If the representative is not available in King County, the representative shall be available by telephone at the parties’ expense.

(4) Failure to Attend. Failure to attend the dispute resolution procedure in accordance with paragraphs (A) and (B) above may result in the imposition of terms and sanctions that the judge may deem appropriate.

(5) Judge Disqualified for Trial. A judge presiding over a settlement conference shall be disqualified from acting as the trial judge in the matter, unless all parties agree in writing that he/she should so act.

[Amended September 1, 1977; September 1, 1981; amended effective January 1, 1990, September 1, 1992; September 1, 1993; September 1, 1994; September 1, 2001; January 2, 2004; September 1, 2004; September 1, 2007; September 1, 2008; June 1, 2009; September 1, 2012; September 2, 2013; September 2, 2014; September 1, 2015.]