Jefferson County Circuit Court, Wisconsin Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

CRITICAL

Before bringing a covered discovery motion, the movant must consult with the opposing party in person or by telephone and sincerely attempt to resolve the differences.

(3) All motions to compel discovery or production of documents pursuant to the Wisconsin Statutes governing civil procedure, or any motion to serve additional interrogatories must be accompanied by a statement in writing by the movant that, after consultation in person or by telephone with the opposing party and sincere attempts to resolve their differences, the parties are unable to reach an accord.

CRITICAL

When the parties cannot resolve all financial issues, the Court will order financial mediation before routing the case for a contested final hearing; parties must attend and cooperate if ordered, subject to limited court-discretionary waivers.

It the parties are unable to reach an agreement resolving all financial issues (property division, debt division, or maintenance), the Court will order the parties to attend financial mediation prior to routing the matter for a contested final hearing. The parties shall attend and cooperate in the mediation process if ordered. Any party failing to engage or cooperate in the mediation process is subject to sanctions. There may be very limited circumstances in which the requirement for financial mediation is waived and such waivers are at the discretion of the court.

CRITICAL

Before filing the covered discovery motions, the movant must consult with the opposing party and make sincere resolution attempts; the motion must include a written statement documenting the unsuccessful consultation, its date and place, and the participants.

All motions to compel discovery or production of documents pursuant to the Wisconsin Statutes governing civil procedure, or any motion to serve additional interrogatories must be accompanied by a statement in writing by the movant that, after consultation in person or by telephone with the opposing party and sincere attempts to resolve their differences, the parties are unable to reach an accord. The statement shall recite, in addition, the date and place of such consultation and the names of all parties participating therein.

WARNING

A party seeking additional interrogatories should promptly consult the opposing party and try to reach a written stipulation for a reasonable number.

If a party believes that additional interrogatories are necessary, he or she should promptly consult with the party to whom the additional interrogatories would be propounded and attempt to reach a written stipulation as to a reasonable number of additional interrogatories.

WARNING

A party seeking more interrogatories should first promptly consult and attempt to obtain a written stipulation; if agreement is not reached, the party may seek court permission by motion showing necessity.

(2) If a party believes that additional interrogatories are necessary, he or she should promptly consult with the party to whom the additional interrogatories would be propounded and attempt to reach a written stipulation as to a reasonable number of additional interrogatories. If a written stipulation is reached, the stipulation and a proposed order permitting the propounding of additional interrogatories should promptly be served on all other parties and filed with the Court for Court consideration. If a stipulation cannot be reached, the party seeking to serve additional interrogatories may move the Court for permission to serve additional interrogatories. The motion shall show the necessity for the relief requested.