Clallam County Superior Court

		
		
                                   LCR 94(f)
                   DOMESTIC RELATIONS SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES


  (1)  A settlement conference shall be held in all contested domestic relations
       cases, including dissolution, legal separation, paternity, 3rd party custody,
       domestic partnership, marriage-like relationships, or modification of any
       custody order.  The settlement conference shall be held with a Court
       Commissioner or Judge.

  (2)  Domestic relations cases shall not be set for trial under LCR 40(b)
       without a settlement conference, except in the following circumstances;

       a. The requirement is waived, upon good cause shown, by a Judge or Court
          Commissioner; or

       b. A settlement is not reached in an initial settlement conference because of
          a party's violation of one or more provisions of LCR 94(f).  In such instances,
          a trial date may be set, but a second settlement conference will be scheduled
          to occur prior to the established trial date.

  (3)  Once a response to the petition has been filed, a settlement conference is
       scheduled by noting the matter before the Court Administrator on the Friday
       8:45 a.m. trial setting calendar.

  (4)  The personal appearance of the parties and their attorneys is mandatory at
       the settlement conference.  In cases where domestic violence is at issue, or
       where a party no longer resides within the State of Washington, appearance may
       be by phone.  In all other instances, or unless otherwise agreed by the
       parties, appearing by phone is not considered a personal appearance.  If the
       parties do not agree, the requesting party may seek an exception to this rule
       by filing a motion, prior to the scheduled settlement conference, to waive the
       appearance requirement.  Such motions will be filed pursuant to the terms of
       LCR 94(a).   The Court shall impose a sanction in the amount of $250 against a
       party who violates this provision.

  (5)  If parties agree to reset a settlement conference, they will inform the
       Court Administrator of that agreement as soon as possible, but in no case later
       than the business day prior to the scheduled conference.

  (6)  Parties will prepare for and participate in good faith in scheduled
       settlement conferences.  One week prior to the scheduled settlement conference,
       each party shall file a Settlement Statement in form substantially similar to
       the pattern form set forth in Exhibit A.  The Settlement Statement is intended
       to provide the narrative and documentary information necessary to inform the
       court and the opposing party of the submitting party's position on the major
       issues to be resolved.  The Settlement Statement will not be filed in the Court
       file, but the original will be provided to the judicial officer conducting the
       settlement conference, with a copy provided to the opposing party or his/her
       attorney.

  (7)  If both parties fail to provide the Settlement Statement one week prior to
       the scheduled settlement conference, the Court shall issue an order which:

       a. Strikes the settlement conference; and

       b. Directs the parties to appear before the Court Administrator to select a
          new settlement conference date.

  (8)  If only one party fails to file the Settlement Statement one week prior to
       the scheduled settlement conference, the Court shall issue an order which
       imposes a sanction on the offending party in the amount of $500, to be reduced
       to $250 if the Settlement Statement is filed before the scheduled settlement
       conference.  If, at the beginning of the settlement conference, the party that
       complied with the original deadline requests a continuance of the settlement
       conference, the conference will be reset to a new date.

  (9)  If the Court finds that a Settlement Statement is materially deficient, or
       that a party's lack of preparation prohibits a meaningful settlement
       conference, the Court may impose additional sanctions or other remedies as the
       Court deems appropriate.

  (10) If the provisions of LCR 94(f) have been followed and a case fails to
       settle at the settlement conference, the parties will immediately appear before
       the Court Administrator following the settlement conference to select a trial
       date.  Unless otherwise agreed, the trial will not be scheduled to occur sooner
       than forty-five days, nor later than 120 days, following the unsuccessful
       settlement conference.  Trials for the types of cases identified in LCR
       94(f)(1) may be set to commence on either Monday or Tuesday.


[Adopted effective September 1, 2009; revised July 1, 2009.]