Kan. R. Jud. Dist. 4.204

As amended through October 30, 2024
Rule 4.204 - Pretrial Conference
(1).Pre-Trial Conference. A date for a pre-trial conference shall be in the case management order in cases designated for jury trial. A date for a pre-trial conference may be set at request of counsel or upon the Court's own motion in cases designated for bench trials.
(2).Pre-Trial Questionnaire. At least one (1) week before the pre-trial conference, counsel for each party shall complete a pre-trial questionnaire and mail a copy thereof to the Court and to all other counsel. The originals of the pre-trial questionnaire shall be filed with the Clerk of the District Court only if the parties fail to file an agreed Pre-Trial Order before the holding of a formal conference. A suggested form for the pre-trial questionnaire is attached to this rule. Its use is recommended to the bar.
(3).Preparation of Pre-Trial Conference Order. All pre-trial orders shall be prepared by the attorney designated by the judge presiding at the pre-trial conference and shall be filed within the time specified by the Court. A suggested form for the pre-trial order is attached to this rule.
(4).Presence of Trial Counsel and Parties Required. The attorney who will actually conduct the trial shall appear at and conduct the pre-trial conference. If good cause is shown why the actual trial attorney cannot appear, the Court may proceed if the appearing attorneys are familiar with the matter so that a meaningful pre-trial may be conducted. Local counsel shall also be present. Unless the pre-trial order is agreed upon in advance, parties shall also be present.
(5).Procedure. In conducting the pre-trial conference, the Court will follow Kansas Supreme Court Rule No. 140.
(6).Agreed-To Pre-Trial Order Docket. Any case in which the attorneys agree upon a pre-trial order, the case shall be set on the Court's docket for submission of the agreed order, at which time the attorneys for each side shall appear to obtain the Court's review and approval of said order and a trial setting. Parties will not be required to attend.
(7).Failure to Present Agreed-To Pre-Trial Order. In the event counsel fails to present an agreed-to pre-trial order at the designated time, counsel shall be prepared to conduct a formal pre-trial conference forthwith, or as soon thereafter as the Court shall determine, with parties in attendance.
(8).Medical Malpractice Settlement Conference. In medical malpractice cases, as part of the pre-trial conference or as part of the agreed-to pre-trial order, the court shall designate the person before whom a settlement conference will be conducted and shall provide for the scheduling of said conference not less than forty-five (45) days before trial.

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PRETRIAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Instruction: This questionnaire must be completed by each party and copies mailed to the Presiding Judge and all other counsel at least one week prior to pretrial conference. All questions must be answered or indicated as not applicable. All answers must be typed. If the space provided is not sufficient for your answers, you may type your own questionnaire and answers in accordance with this format.

1. The name of the party you represent:
2. Contentions and theories of recovery:
a. Theory of your claim or defense and supporting factual contentions (including, if applicable, grounds of negligence or comparative negligence against parties and non-parties, and affirmative defenses):
b. List and itemize total of damages claimed:
3. Request for amendments to your pleadings: 4. Request for admissions and stipulations:
a. The Court has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter.
b. Venue is proper in ____________ County, Kansas.
5. List names and addresses of all witnesses you intend to call at trial: (Identify as an expert any witness you intend to call as an expert.)
6. List all exhibits you intend to offer at trial and identify any which have not already been shown to opposing counsel: *General classifications of witnesses and exhibits are not acceptable.
7. Motions:
a. List motions you have pending:
b. List motions you intend to file prior to trial and date by which you propose to file each motion:
8. Trial Assignment:
a. Is this trial to the Court or to a jury or to a master to be appointed by the Court?
b. Will a jury of 6 members be accepted?
c. What is the estimated time for trial?
d. Should case receive priority setting and if so, why? (If due to out-of-town witnesses, please specify.) (Counsel are required to bring scheduling calendars to the pretrial conference.)
9. Guardian ad litem: Does any party require a guardian ad litem?
10. Expert or Cumulative Witness Limitations: List request for limitation of witnesses:
11. Questions of fact:
12. Questions of law:
13. Unusual questions of evidence:
14. Anticipated problems relative to jury instructions:
15. Settlement:
a. What are the prospects of settlement?
b. Would a settlement conference be of assistance?
16. Do you plan to file trial briefs? If so, set forth proposed time schedule for filing.
17. State any procedural problems or recommendations:
18. Discovery: (It is presumed that all discovery is completed at the time of pretrial.)
a. If further discovery is requested, specify what further discovery is necessary, and state why:
b. State when it would be completed and request leave under Supreme Court Rule 136 to continue specified limited discovery:

__________________________________

Attorney for: _______________________

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

On this ______ day of _________________, ______, a true and correct copy of this document was mailed, postage prepaid, to:

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SAMPLE

PRETRIAL CONFERENCE ORDER

This Pretrial Conference order is entered by Judge _____________________ on the ____ day of ____________________,______. Counsel present were___________________________ appearing for the plaintiff; and___________________________ appearing for the defendant.

WHEREUPON, the Court conducted a pretrial hearing under Supreme Court Rule No. 140: (If an agreed upon order so states.)

1. PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTION AND THEORIES OF RECOVERY

The plaintiff's contentions and theories of defense are as follows:

2. DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS AND THEORIES OF DEFENSE

The defendant's contentions and theories of defense are as follows:

3. AMENDMENTS TO THE PLEADINGS

The Court allowed the following amendments to the pleadings:

4. ADMISSIONS AND STIPULATIONS

The parties agree to be bound by the following:

a. The Court has jurisdiction over the parties and of the subject matter.
b. Venue is proper in ______________ County, Kansas.
5. WITNESSES (If you intend to call any witness as an expert, so identify them.)
a. Plaintiff:
(1)
(2)
b. Defendant:
(1)
(2)
c. Identified by both parties:
(1)
(2)
6. EXHIBITS
a. Plaintiff:
(1)
(2)
b. Defendant:
(1)
(2)
c. Identified by both parties:
(1)
(2)
7. MOTIONS

The Court made the following rulings on motions and the filing of motions:

(1)
(2)
8. EXPERT OR CUMULATIVE WITNESS LIMITATIONS

The Court made the following limitations on expert and cumulative witnesses:

(1)
(2)
9. ISSUES OF FACT

The issues of fact to be determined in this action are as follows:

a.
b.
10. ISSUES OF LAW
a. The following issues of law are identified:
(1)
(2)
b. Rulings on issues of law:
(1)
(2)
11. QUESTIONS OF EVIDENCE OR PROCEDURE
a. The following questions of evidence or procedure are identified:
(1)
(2)
b. Rulings on evidence or procedural questions:
(1)
(2)
12. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
a. The following jury instruction problems are identified:
(1)
(2)
b. Ruling on jury instruction:
(1) Proposed jury instructions will be submitted _____ days before trial.
(2)
13. TRIAL BRIEFS

Trial briefs, if any must be submitted ______ days before trial.

14. ORDERS

In addition to the foregoing, the Court made these additional orders:

a. All discovery is terminated except:
(1) Uncompleted discovery which is specifically allowed as follows:
(a)
(b)
b. This Pretrial Order supersedes all pleadings and shall control the trial of this matter.
c. Witnesses and exhibits listed by one party may be called by any other party. All exhibits will be marked and exchanged by the parties 7 days before trial.
d. The trial of this case shall be limited to the issues, witnesses and exhibits listed; and no deviation therefrom will be permitted except for rebuttal or impeachment purposes or by special order of the Court to prevent manifest injustice.
15. TRIAL OF THE ACTION

Trial of this case shall be to a jury of twelve (12) persons and a majority verdict of 10 will be required. (Modify if six-member jury is acceptable.) Estimated time of trial is _____ days and will commence on _________________.

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Kan. R. Jud. Dist. 4.204

Revised: 6/4/2014