Rule 14. Pretrial conferences. A. OBJECTIVES. In any action, the court may, in its discretion, direct the parties' attorneys or the parties to appear before it for one or more conferences before trial for the following purposes:
     (1) expediting the disposition of the action;
     (2) establishing early and continuing control so that the case will not be delayed because of lack of management;
     (3) discouraging wasteful pretrial activities;
     (4) improving the quality of the trial with more thorough preparation; and
     (5) facilitating the settlement of the case.
     B. SANCTIONS. If a party or a party's attorney fails to obey a pretrial order, if no appearance is made on behalf of a party at the pretrial conference, if a party or a party's attorney is substantially unprepared to participate in the conference, or if a party or a party's attorney fails to participate in good faith, the judge, upon the judge's own motion, may make orders as are just and may deal with the offending party pursuant to Title 3, chapter 10, part 4. In lieu of or in addition to any other sanction, the judge may require the party or the party's attorney, or both, to pay the reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, incurred because of any noncompliance with this rule unless the judge finds that the noncompliance was substantially justified or that other circumstances make an award of expenses unjust.

     History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. February 9, 1990, eff. June 1, 1990.