§ 23-9. Expedited Process Cases--Case Management Conference

(a)A case management conference shall be scheduled after the filing of the notice of placement on the expedited process track or the certificate of closed pleadings, whichever occurs sooner. All parties and their attorneys shall attend the conference which shall be presided over by a judge or a judge trial referee. The following matters shall be considered at this conference:

(1) A discussion of the possibility of settlement.

(2) Issues concerning the discovery exchange.

(3) Simplification of the issues.

(4) Amendments to the pleadings.

(5) Admissions of fact, including stipulations of the parties concerning any material matter and admissibility of evidence, particularly photographs, maps, drawings and documents, in order to minimize the time required for trial.

(6) Inspection of hospital records and X-ray films.

(7) Exchange of all medical reports, bills and evidences of special damage which have come into the possession of the parties or of counsel since compliance with discovery.

(8) Such other procedures as may aid in the disposition of the case, including the exchange of medical reports, and the like, which come into the possession of counsel subsequent to the management conference.

(b)The judicial authority may make appropriate orders at the management conference, including the imposition of discovery sanctions under Section 13-14, and such orders shall control the subsequent conduct of the case unless modified at the trial to prevent manifest injustice. Failure to abide by any such orders may subject the offending party to a nonsuit or a default.

(c)At the management conference the judicial authority shall, at the request of any party, address any party on the record to ensure that the party voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived the rights to a jury trial, to a record of the trial proceedings and to appeal and that the party understands the expedited process procedure.