Weinstein v. Harmon ( 2014 )

Weinstein v. Harmon, No. 139-3-13 Bncv (Wesley, J., July 24, 2014).
[The text of this Vermont trial court opinion is unofficial. It has been reformatted from the original. The accuracy of the text and the
accompanying data included in the Vermont trial court opinion database is not guaranteed.]
STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL DIVISION
Bennington Unit Docket No. 139-3-13 Bncv
Weinstein vs. Harmon et al
ENTRY REGARDING MOTION
Title: Motion In-person rule 16.2 conf to revisit pret (Motion 14)
Filer: Maureen Harmon
Attorney: Christopher D. Roy
Filed Date: June 25, 2014
No response filed
The motion is DENIED
Decision Denying Defendants’ Motion for a Rule 16.2 Conference
Defendants request the Court schedule a status conference to discuss the discovery
schedule. Defendants assert multiple attempts to workout discovery obligations and deadlines
have failed. Defendants believe a status conference with the Court to discuss obligations under
V.R.C.P. 16.2 would resolve many of the discovery issues in this case.
The Court set a discovery schedule, as stipulated by the parties, on December 23, 2013.
The Court also issued an order on discovery motions on April 7, 2014 that discussed discovery
requirements. The parties have until September 2, 2014 to complete discovery. Failure to
follow the discovery schedule may result in sanctions. See Carpenter v. Cent. Vt. Med. Ctr., 170
Vt. 565, 568 (1999). V.R.C.P. 16.2 does not require the Court to hold a status conference after it
signed a stipulated discovery order, and in the absence of proper framing of claimed discovery
disputes as contemplated by the rules of discovery.
The Court may hold a discovery conference, but the moving party must fulfill the
requirements of V.R.C.P. 26(f). See Poplaski v. Lamphere, 152 Vt. 251, 255 (1989) (discussing the
Court’s ability to set a discovery conference). V.R.C.P. 26(f) requires a statement of issues, a
proposed plan, proposed limits on discovery, other proposed orders, and negotiation between
the attorneys to resolve their discovery disputes before approaching the Court. Defendants’
motion satisfies none of these requirements. Moreover, counsel may file motions to compel
disclosure if they follow V.R.C.P. 26(h) and make their arguments in particularity.
WHEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED :
Because the parties have failed to exercise their good faith obligation to attempt to
resolve disputes as to discovery without involving the Court, the Court declines to set a status
or discovery conference.|
Electronically signed on July 24, 2014 at 02:28 PM pursuant to V.R.E.F. 7(d).
______________________________________
John P. Wesley
Superior Court Judge
Notifications:
Lloyd J. Weinstein (ERN 6012), Attorney for Plaintiff Jennifer Weinstein
Harry R. Ryan (ERN 1833), Attorney for Defendant Tommy A. Harmon
Defendant Tommy A. Harmon, Jr. on behalf o
Christopher D. Roy (ERN 1352), Attorney for Defendant Maureen Harmon
Defendant Maureen Harmon
Christopher D. Roy (ERN 1352), Attorney for Defendant Nelson Harmon
Christopher D. Roy (ERN 1352), Attorney for Defendant Rocking Stone Farm Homeowners
Christopher D. Roy (ERN 1352), Attorney for Defendant Rocking Stone Farm
Christopher D. Roy (ERN 1352), Attorney for Defendant Jeanmarie Leonard
Christopher D. Roy (ERN 1352), Attorney for Defendant Carol Sayour
Defendant Nelson Harmon, on behalf of
Lloyd J. Weinstein (ERN 6012), Attorney for Defendant Lloyd J. Weinstein
Lloyd J. Weinstein (ERN 6012), Attorney for Defendant Weinstein Groupe, P.C., The
wesley