Service of Discovery Also Subject to New Deadline in Delaware Federal Court

We previously posted on the new deadline of 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time for all filings other than initial pleadings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. On October 15, 2014, Chief Judge Leonard Stark of the District of Delaware issued a letter addressing certain questions about the new rule. Chief Judge Stark reiterated that filings and service must be completed by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and further indicated that this rule applies to all filing and service deadlines — including service of discovery materials — in every case in the District of Delaware, other than initial pleadings or those cases in Bankruptcy Court.

Chief Judge Stark explained clearly that “the 6:00 p.m. deadline applies to the exchange among parties of discovery requests and discovery responses, and it applies even if such requests or responses are made by hand delivery.” The rule cannot be altered by both parties’ consent in specific cases, but rather only by judicial relaxation of the rule, a “discretion [that] will be exercised rarely (most likely during trial).” A judge’s discretion to relax the deadline is even further limited to only the deadline for a “particular paper.” The Chief Judge noted that the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association was forming a new committee “to explore work-life balance issues” and suggested that the committee’s recommendations to the Court could result in further rule changes.

Gibbons will continue to monitor the local rules of the District of Delaware and other district courts.

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