Reported / Citable
Background
Aaron Ramirez filed a complaint against General Motors, LLC on March 26, 2026. The defendant answered on April 28, 2026. Under Western District of Texas Local Rule CV-16(c), parties are required to submit a joint proposed scheduling order within 60 days of any defendant’s appearance. Despite this deadline requirement, the parties failed to timely submit the scheduling order, prompting Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower to issue this order.
The Court’s Holding
The court ordered the parties to submit a joint proposed scheduling order on or before July 22, 2026. The parties are directed to consult the Western District of Texas website (www.txwd.uscourts.gov), navigate to the “Judges’ Info” tab, then “Standing Orders” and “Austin Division,” and use District Judge Robert Pitman’s form for the submission.
Key Takeaways
- Compliance with Local Rule CV-16(c) is mandatory; failure results in court-ordered enforcement.
- Parties must use the judge’s standing form template available on the court’s official website.
- Deadline for submission is July 22, 2026—approximately 14 days from the order date.
Why It Matters
This order underscores the Western District of Texas’s strict enforcement of procedural rules requiring early case management. Parties who fail to comply with local scheduling requirements face judicial intervention and potential sanctions. The order demonstrates that courts will intervene promptly when parties do not meet their initial case management obligations, ensuring cases move through the system on schedule.