After considering the Proposed Case Management Report previously filed by the parties, the Court has entered its Scheduling Order. At first glance, it appears that nearly everything requested by the parties was granted. The important dates are as follows:

11/14/08: Last day for initial Rule 26 Disclosure exchange.

11/30/08: Last day to seek leave to add any new parties or amend pleadings. I note this date is interesting if Apple’s Motion to Dismiss is denied, this leaves scant time to file an Answer and be certain that no amendments are needed.

1/31/09: Last day to complete JAMS mediation.

6/26/09: Last day for designation of expert testimony and disclosure of full expert reports. The parties then have fourteen calendar days to disclose any rebuttal expert testimony with full reports. Lastly, the parties will then have seven calendar days to disclosure any reply reports. The deadline for all expert discovery is fourteen calendar days after the deadline for reply reports. Within twenty-eight calender days of 6/26/09, each party must serve a list of issues on which it will proffer expert opinion in its case-in-chief.

8/20/09: Last day to file dispositive motions. No hearings will be had on any dispositive motions more than thirty-five days after this deadline.

10/26/09: Final Pre-Trial Conference

11/9/09: Jury Trial Commences. The precise date may change to a few days up to a few weeks later than this date at the Final Pre-Trial Conference.

This Order is one of the clearest I have read. Though not related to this case specifically, I was impressed with the Court’s statement in Paragraph 8 that the Court will definitely hear oral argument on non-discovery motions if the written request states that a lawyer of four or fewer years out of law school will be arguing the motion as the Court believes that young lawyers need more opportunities for appearance to gain needed experience. That is really awesome.