Prepare for your case management conference

The court requires that the parties in the case communicate with each other either in person or by telephone at least 30 days before each case management conference. The court refers to this step as meet and confer.

Typically, you'll do this over a phone call. On the call, you should discuss the issues in your case to see if they can be resolved, or even if the case can settle. 

Typical things to discuss with the other side

• What is the schedule?

  You might discuss when you think you'll be ready for trial, what dates you and the other side, as well as any witnesses, are available for trial (if the court has not already set a date). You can also discuss how long you think the trial will last. This length usually depends on how many witnesses you each have.

• Is a settlement possible?

  If you and the other side are not too far apart, you may be able to settle the case in a settlement conference with a judge rather than go to trial. Most courts schedule a settlement conference before the trial. If you and the other side think you can reach an agreement in a more informal setting with the help of a judge, you can ask to schedule the settlement conference earlier. 

• Are there issues regarding discovery?

  You may be able to use this meeting to ask for an extension on discovery, address any objections that have come up during requests for discovery, discuss any issues you anticipate will come up during discovery.

• Can you narrow the scope of the trial?

  If you and the other side can agree that certain issues are not in question, you will not need to prove these at trial and you can focus your evidence on things that you don't agree on. You may also be able to agree to eliminate some of the causes of action in the Complaint or defenses in the Answer.

Fill out Case Management Statement (form CM-110).  

This form has you fill out information about the preparation of your case, to inform the court what the case is about, how long the trial will take, what types of alternatives to trial you are willing to participate in, and how close to ready your case is to trial. 

After you’ve filled out the forms and signed the Case Management Statement, make 3 copies of the form.

Ask another adult – a server – to mail the Case Management Statement.   

Your server must be: 

• 18 or over, and 

• Not part of your case 

Have your server mail the papers to the other side's attorney Your server should note the date they mailed the papers.

Have your server complete the Proof of Service form (form POS-30). It helps if you fill in the top part of the form with the case and court information.    

Your server can then fill in the information about how, when, and where they served the papers. Your server must sign the form. 

Make a copy of your Proof of Service form.  

File the Case Management Statement and the Proof of Service form 15-30 days before your conference is scheduled.