The Case Management Conference: Tune-up Needed?

The Case Management Conference (CMC) is a meeting where the court and attorneys schedule trial dates, discuss issues, and try to settle the case. The court can also help move the case along if it’s taking too long. If attorneys don’t cooperate, the court can dismiss the case. The conference can be useful in complex cases with lots of parties. It’s important for everyone to follow the schedule set at the CMC. In some cases, the court can punish attorneys for not following the schedule. Overall, the CMC can be a helpful tool in getting cases resolved. Rule 1.200 of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure was created to give the court more control over the progress of a legal action. It allows the court to order a case management conference (CMC) to set a date for filing and adjudication of certain legal motions. The CMC can be requested by a party 30 days after filing a petition or complaint. Different district courts have their own rules for CMCs, with specific requirements and time frames. Overall, the purpose of the CMC is to manage the progress of a case and prevent unnecessary delays. The court has time standards for how long it should take to resolve different types of cases. For example, uncontested divorces should take 90 days, contested divorces 180 days, and temporary support hearings should be resolved within 14 days. There are also time standards for other types of cases, like civil jury cases and small claims. It’s important for attorneys to attend court hearings and follow the court’s orders, or else the case could be dismissed. Joseph McFarland is a lawyer in Tampa who specializes in taking cases to court and helping people with immigration issues. This article is written on behalf of a group of trial lawyers. Their goal is to teach their members about doing their job well, serving the public, and making the legal system better.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/the-case-management-conference-tune-up-needed/