Procedure to Admit Counsel Pro Hac Vice – Magistrate Judge Donio requires the filing of a formal motion to admit counsel pro hac vice. The motion should indicate whether all counsel consent or if there is an objection. Counsel should follow L. Civ. R. 101.1(c) and the comment thereto.

Confidentiality Orders - The parties are encouraged to use the form discovery confidentiality order found at Appendix S of the Local Rules.  If the parties submit their own version of a confidentiality order, which differs from Appendix S, they must submit: (1) a clean version of the proposed order that is ready for signature, and (2) an additional version that shall indicate in what respect(s) it differs from Appendix S by bracketing or striking through materials to be deleted and underlining materials to be added.

Motions to Seal – In addition to filing materials subject to a motion to seal with the Clerk pursuant to L. Civ. R. 5.3, a copy of such materials should be submitted to chambers in a sealed envelope marked “Courtesy copies of documents designated as confidential materials filed pursuant to L. Civ. R. 5.3.”

Motions to Amend - Any motion to amend or supplement shall attach a proposed amended pleading and delineate how the proposed amended pleading differs from the pleading which it proposes to amend by either bracketing or striking through materials to be deleted and/or underlining additional materials. See L. Civ. R. 15.1(a)(2) (eff. 5/10/2017).

Settlement Conferences – Refer to the document “Order Concerning Settlement Conferences” on the Court’s website for guidance.

Telephone Conferences – Magistrate Judge Donio is amenable to telephone conferences in lieu of formal in-court hearings on motions and may conduct initial and status conferences by telephone.

Adjournment Requests - The party seeking an adjournment should attempt to gain the adversary’s consent before submitting the request. The adjournment request should be made in writing and should set forth the date of the conference, the basis for the adjournment request, whether the request is being made with consent, and the length of adjournment being sought.

Copies of Papers – Magistrate Judge Donio requires that a courtesy copy of briefs, letter memoranda, motion papers, and proposed orders be submitted to chambers for the Court’s convenience.

Discovery Letters and Motions - Counsel shall meet and confer in a good faith attempt to informally resolve all discovery or case management disputes before seeking the Court’s intervention. See Local Civil Rule 37.1(a)(1). Absent exigent circumstances, the Court expects parties to "meet and confer" in-person, via telephone, or video conference before making a discovery application. Any dispute not resolved shall be brought to the Court’s attention by letter after counsel’s good faith attempt to resolve the dispute has failed and shall set forth in detail the specific efforts that were made to resolve the dispute before contacting the Court. No discovery motion shall be made without prior leave of Court. See Local Civil Rule 37.1(b).

Extensions of Time - Any application for an extension of time beyond the deadlines set herein shall be made prior to expiration of the period sought to be extended and shall disclose in the application all such extensions previously obtained, the precise reasons necessitating the application showing good cause under Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b), and whether adversary counsel agree with the application.