The parties here have been discussing settlement on and off, for over two years now.

But no signed agreements have resulted — despite numerous conferences, in person — with the able Magistrate in NJDC. So, to move them along, the court has set a July 6, 2023 pretrial date. That would be the moment when each side must answer “ready for trial” — or explain why, after nearly a decade in motion practice… one or the other is NOT ready.

Indeed, this is mostly just to impress on both sides… that a trial will occur this summer if they don’t come to terms, and soon. So this was entered this afternoon, on the federal docket, in Newark:

…TEXT ORDER:

Final Pretrial Conference set for 7/6/2023 at 11:00 a.m. in Newark – Courtroom 2C. Trial counsel must be present at the conference. The parties shall jointly file a proposed final pretrial order by 6/22/2023. The parties shall mail a tabbed courtesy copy to Chambers by 6/22/2023. Please mark your calendar accordingly.

So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer on 4/10/2023….

Onward, grinning on a lovely Spring afternoon — to now ride a mountain bike, by the crystal clear lake waters. First of the season!

नमस्ते