Informal Discovery Conference In Los Angeles County Superior Court
An Informal Discovery Conference, commonly abbreviated as "IDC," is an informal proceeding used by the courts to encourage resolution of disputes, particularly discovery-related disputes, prior to the filing of a motion; a forced further meet and confer, if you will. IDCs are encouraged by many courts throughout Los Angeles County. At the informal discovery conference, the judge listens to each party's position in the dispute, and provides guidance. The outcome of the informal discovery conference can be described as a "tentative-tentative" ruling on the disputed issue prior to the hearing on the motion. The parties may later bring additional argument in the formal motion that can persuade the court otherwise; however, this may be an uphill battle. In Personal Injury Courts (PI Courts) of Los Angeles County (Departments 91, 92 and 93 in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse), informal discovery conferences are required by the 5th Amended General Order prior to the hearing on a motion to compel further responses to discovery. PI Court judges are available daily to conduct a 30-minute, in person IDCs with counsel from both sides who have full authority to make binding agreements in discovery disputes. Again, there are no rulings made in PI Court IDCs. "The purpose of the IDC is to help the parties resolve discovery disputes by agreement rather than by motion practice." Prior to the IDC, the clerk may ask the parties if they would like to meet and confer again before sitting down with the judge. How To Schedule An Informal Discovery Conference Each court has its own policies and procedures with respect to the availability and scheduling [...]