(a) Cases subject to arbitration Except as provided in (b), the following cases must be arbitrated: (1) In each superior court with 18 or more authorized judges, all unlimited civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000 as to any plaintiff; (2) In each superior court with fewer than 18 authorized judges that so provides by local rule, all unlimited civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000 as to any plaintiff; (3) All limited civil cases in courts

Unless the court orders another time period, no later than 30 calendar days before the date set for the case management conference, the parties must meet and confer, in person or by telephone, to consider each of the issues identified in rule 3.727 and, in addition, to consider the following: (1) Resolving any discovery disputes and setting a discovery schedule; (2) Identifying and, if possible, informally resolving any anticipated motions; (3) Identifying the facts and issues in the case that are

(a) General application The rules in this chapter prescribe the procedures for the management of all applicable court cases. These rules may be referred to as "the case management rules." (Subd (a) amended and lettered effective February 26, 2013; adopted as unlettered subd.) (b) Suspension of rules A court by local rule may exempt specified types or categories of general civil cases from the case management rules in this chapter, provided that the court has in place alternative procedures for case