TITLE IV

PRE-TRIAL PROCEDURE

Art. 1551. Pretrial and scheduling conference; order

            A. In any civil action in a district court the court may in its discretion direct the attorneys for the parties to appear before it for conferences to consider any of the following:

            (1) The simplification of the issues, including the elimination of frivolous claims or defenses.

            (2) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings.

            (3) What material facts and issues exist without substantial controversy, and what material facts and issues are actually and in good faith controverted.

            (4) Proof, stipulations regarding the authenticity of documents, and advance rulings from the court on the admissibility of evidence.

            (5) Limitations or restrictions on or regulation of the use of expert testimony under Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 702.

            (6) The control and scheduling of discovery including any issues relating to disclosure or discovery of electronically stored information, and the form or forms in which it should be produced.

            (7) Any issues relating to claims of privilege or protection of trial preparation material, and whether the court should include agreements between counsel relating to such issues in an order.

            (8) The identification of witnesses, documents, and exhibits.

            (9) The presentation of testimony or other evidence by electronic devices.

            (10) Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the action.

            B. The court shall render an order which recites the action taken at the conference, the amendments allowed to the pleadings, and the agreements made by the parties as to any of the matters considered, and which limits the issues for trial to those not disposed of by admissions or agreements of counsel. Such order controls the subsequent course of the action, unless modified at the trial to prevent manifest injustice.

            C. If a party's attorney fails to obey a pretrial order, or to appear at the pretrial and scheduling conference, or is substantially unprepared to participate in the conference or fails to participate in good faith, the court, on its own motion or on the motion of a party, after hearing, may make such orders as are just, including orders provided in Article 1471 (2), (3), and (4). In lieu of or in addition to any other sanction, the court may require the party or the attorney representing the party or both to pay the reasonable expenses incurred by noncompliance with this Paragraph, including attorney fees.

            D. If a suit has been pending for more than one year since the date of filing of the original petition and no trial date has been assigned, upon motion of any party, the court shall set the matter for conference for the purpose of resolving all matters subject to the provisions of this Article, including the scheduling of discovery, assignment for trial, and any other matters that will expedite the resolution of the suit. The conference may be conducted in chambers, by telephone, or by video teleconference.

            Acts 1997, No. 1056, §1; Acts 2008, No. 824, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2018, No. 254, §1.