Federal Courts Rules

Marginal note:Scope of pre-trial conference

263 Participants at a pre-trial conference must be prepared to address

• (a) the possibility of settlement of any or all of the issues in the action and of referring any unsettled issues to a dispute resolution conference;

• (b) simplification of the issues in the action;

• (c) any issues arising from any affidavits or statements of expert witnesses, including

  • (i) any objection to an opposing party’s proposed expert witness that could disqualify the witness from testifying and the basis for the objection,

  • (ii) any benefit to the litigation in ordering the experts to confer with one another in advance of trial in order to narrow the issues and identify the points on which their views differ, and

  • (iii) the need for any additional or rebuttal expert witness evidence;

• (d) the possibility of obtaining admissions that may facilitate the trial;

• (e) the issue of liability;

• (f) the amount of damages, where damages are claimed;

• (g) the estimated duration of the trial;

• (h) the advisability of having the Court appoint an assessor;

• (i) the advisability of a reference;

• (j) suitable dates for a trial;

• (k) the necessity for interpreters or simultaneous interpretation at the trial;

• (l) whether a notice of a constitutional question needs to be served under section 57 of the Act;

• (m) the content of the trial record; and

• (n) any other matter that may promote the timely and just disposition of the action.