Minutes | Filed: June 22, 2026
| Entered: June 22, 2026
Jones v. Amazon Logistics Inc. et al
Motor Vehicle | New York Eastern
Initial Conference Hearing ~Util - Set Deadlines
Minute Entry and Order: An Initial Conference was held via video on 6/22/2026 before Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl. Appearances by Michael Simon for Plaintiff; James McCartney for Defendant Amazon; and Kellie Palermo for Defendant Sheran.
Discussion held regarding the underlying accident, Plaintiff's injuries, and course of treatment. The parties confirmed that the proposed discovery deadlines in the case management worksheet were agreed upon by all parties via email. The Court reminded the parties of their obligations to preserve and, if appropriate, produce electronically stored information during discovery. As stated on the record, the parties' discovery plan is adopted, in part, as follows. First requests for documents and interrogatories shall be exchanged by 7/2/2026. Plaintiff has agreed to provide HIPAA-compliant records authorizations by 7/3/2026. The parties' proposed confidentiality order shall be filed on ECF by 7/10/2026. Rule 26(a) initial disclosures shall be exchanged by 7/24/2026. The deadline for joining additional parties and amending the pleadings as of right is 9/25/2026. Phase I discovery shall be completed by 9/30/2026. Fact discovery shall be completed on or before 11/13/2026. The parties are directed to file a joint status report certifying the close of fact discovery by 11/23/2026.
As to expert discovery, exchange of expert disclosures shall be completed by 11/16/2026. Expert depositions shall be completed by 12/16/2026. Exchange of rebuttal expert reports shall be completed by 1/19/2027. All expert discovery shall be completed by 2/19/2027, and certification of the completion of all discovery shall be filed on ECF by 3/5/2027. The last date to take the first step in dispositive motion practice is 3/26/2027, and must be done in accordance with the Individual Rules of the presiding judge.
As discussed at the conference, this case has been assigned to a Magistrate Judge pursuant to the Court's Direct Assignment Program, which is governed by Administrative Order 2025-14. By 6/29/2026, the parties must file on ECF either (1) a Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction Consent Form , available at ECF 3 or within the attachment to this Order, or (2) a Direct Assignment Program Acknowledgement Form , indicating that counsel have conferred with their clients and one another regarding consenting to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction, available within the attachment to this Order or at https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/index.php/bulletin-direct-assignment-program. If no consent is received by that date, the Clerk of Court will be directed to randomly assign a District Judge to this case.
The Administrative Order, answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Direct Assignment Program, information about consenting to a Magistrate Judge, and a biography of the Magistrate Judge assigned to this case are on the Court's website on the Direct Assignment Program page, available at https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/bulletin-direct-assignment-program. You may withhold your consent without adverse substantive consequences.
The parties are directed to file a joint status report by 9/22/2026, including an update as to their progress on discovery, any settlement discussions, and whether the case should be referred for mediation or a settlement conference before the Court. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl on 6/22/2026. (Zoom Log #10:09-10:50.) (MJM)