proceed in his/her absence and enter binding rulings regarding any matter, including the admissibility of evidence or dismissal of the case for failure to prosecute.
The conference Judge may sua sponte, or on the motion of any party, dispense with the need for a pre-trial conference, or in the alternative, authorize that a pre-trial conference be conducted telephonically. In the event that a party or counsel is granted permission to participate telephonically, the parties shall be responsible for making all the arrangements for telephonic participation and shall pay all costs related thereto. A party participating in a telephonic conference is not relieved from compliance with Adams C.Civ.R. No. 212.2.
Although it is not necessary for the parties represented by counsel to appear, counsel must appear with authority to bind the client. Parties, or their authorized representatives, must be available by telephone during the pre-trial conference.
At the conclusion of the pre-trial conference, the assigned Judge shall issue an Order setting forth the date of bench trials, or in the event of a jury trial, setting the case for a specific term. The Court Order shall designate a date certain upon which the case will be called to determine trial readiness. The parties may answer the call formally by appearance, or informally by telephone or correspondence to the Court Administrator's Office prior to the call date. Failure to answer the call may result in the case being stricken from the trial list. The Order shall also set forth when appropriate any other action taken at the pre-trial conference including the scheduling of all matters to be completed before trial.
Trials by jury may be scheduled during any civil trial term so designated on the Court calendar provided that the earliest date on which the case may be tried is during the first civil trial term which follows the pre-trial conference held pursuant to Adams C.Civ.R. No. 212.2 by at least thirty (30) days. This rule may be waived by agreement of the parties with the permission of the Court.
At least five (5) days prior to the pre-trial conference held pursuant to Adams C.Civ.R. No. 212.3, each party shall submit a pre-trial statement which shall contain the following:
A brief narrative statement of the case;
The names and addresses of all persons who may be called as witnesses by the party filing the statement identifying each as a "fact witness, expert witness or damages witness." A reference which does not state the name of the witness shall be permitted when the witness is described by title or representative capacity;
A list of all exhibits which the party intends to use at trial;
A statement of the issues involved;
A statement of damages claimed;
A statement of proposed amendments to pleadings, if any;
A statement of suggested stipulations of law or facts;