Court Rules
Magistrate Judge

Judge Ann Marie Donio

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
District of New Jersey

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Settlement Memorandum

  • 1 copy • Email • Within 7 Days

Adjournments

3Calendar Daysnotice
  • Requests for excused absence must be in writing 3 days before conference.
Reason For RequestOpposing Counsel PositionUnrepresented Parties Position
7Calendar Daysnotice
  • Settlement conference adjournment requests require informal letter with good cause, specific reasons, and opposing counsel's position, submitted at least 7 days in advance unless extraordinary circumstances exist.
Reason For RequestAdversary Position
Filters:AllMandatorySettlementConferencesMemoranda

Document Filing Requirements3 rules

Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

As set forth supra, in addition to principal attorneys responsible for the litigation, a party or party representative with full settlement authority must be present for the settlement conference. In the case of a corporate entity, an authorized representative of the corporation, in addition to retained outside counsel, must be present.

Summary: Corporate entities must have both corporate representative and outside counsel present.

Document Type

Settlement Conference

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
OrderConcerningSettlementConferences · Jan 2025 · p. 2
|SecFull and Complete Settlement Authority Required
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Settlement memoranda must include the following: (i) a brief description of the action, the claims and/or counterclaims asserted, and the applicable defenses and/or positions concerning the asserted claims, counterclaims, and/or defenses; (ii) a specific and current demand or offer of settlement addressing all relief or remedies sought; (iii) a brief description of any prior settlement offers, if any, mediation sessions, or mediation efforts; and (iv) a brief delineation of any non-monetary terms and/or conditions necessary for settlement.

Summary: Settlement memoranda must include specific required content elements.

Document Type

Settlement Memorandum

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

All parties, adjusters for insured defendants, and other party representatives with full and complete settlement authority, as well as the principal attorneys responsible for the litigation, shall appear in person and remain available for the duration of the settlement conference.

Summary: All parties and representatives with settlement authority must appear in person.

Document Type

Settlement Conference

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
OrderConcerningSettlementConferences · Jan 2025 · p. 2
|SecPersonal Appearance of Parties Required

Filing & Service rules

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Settlement memoranda must be submitted to chambers via email one week before conference.

Counsel shall submit settlement memoranda directly to Chambers no later than one (1) week prior to the settlement conference via email at njdnef_donio@njd.uscourts.gov. These settlement memoranda shall not be electronically filed, but shall be exchanged between the parties no later than one (1) week prior to the settlement conference.

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Page 2 | Settlement Memoranda

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Settlement conference adjournment requests require informal letter with good cause, specific reasons, and opposing counsel's position, submitted at least 7 days in advance unless extraordinary circumstances exist.

Any application to continue and/or to adjourn any settlement conference must be presented by way of informal letter application to the Court. The application shall (1) be supported by good cause; (2) shall set forth, with specificity, the reason for the request; and (3) shall address the position of opposing counsel with respect to any such request. Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for continuances shall be submitted in writing no later than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled conference.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 3 | Requests to Continue and/or to Adjourn Settlement Conferences

Requests for excused absence must be in writing 3 days before conference.

Requests to be excused from personal attendance shall be supported by good cause, shall address the position of opposing counsel or any unrepresented parties with respect to the request, and shall be made in writing at least three (3) days prior to the settlement conference. Any party excused from personal attendance shall remain available telephonically for the entire duration of the settlement conference.

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Page 2 | Personal Appearance of Parties Required

Government attorneys may be excused if they have primary responsibility and negotiation authority.

Counsel for a government entity may be excused from this requirement, provided that the government attorney who attends (1) has primary responsibility for handling the case, and (2) may negotiate settlement offers which the attorney is willing to recommend to the government official having ultimate settlement authority.

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Page 2 | Full and Complete Settlement Authority Required

About United States Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio

**Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio** was appointed to the District of New Jersey in March 2003. Judge Donio graduated from Rutgers University School of Law–Camden in 1988 with Highest Honors, receiving an award for the highest academic average of the graduating class. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Rutgers Law Journal. Following her clerkship, she maintained a private practice concentrating in civil litigation, commercial law, and education law, and served on New Jersey Supreme Court committees on professional ethics. **Education** - Rutgers University School of Law–Camden, J.D., 1988 (Highest Honors; Editor-in-Chief, Rutgers Law Journal) **Career** - Law clerk, Hon. Joseph H. Rodriguez, U.S. District Court, D.N.J., 1988–1989 - Private practice, civil litigation, commercial law, and education law, 1989–2003 - U.S. Magistrate Judge, District of New Jersey, 2003–present

**Division:** Camden **Courthouse:** Mitchell H. Cohen Building & U.S. Courthouse, 4th & Cooper Streets, Camden, NJ 08101 **Chambers:** Courtroom 3A **Phone:** (856) 757-5211 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Susan Bush, (856) 757-5319

Common questions about Judge Ann Marie Donio's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Ann Marie Donio?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for settlement memorandums. Details: 1 copy, delivery within 7 days, by email. Settlement memoranda must be submitted to chambers via email one week before conference.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Settlement Memoranda

What must be included with settlement memorandum filings before Judge Ann Marie Donio?

The rule requires case description, mediation history, defenses positions, non monetary terms, claims counterclaims, prior settlement offers, and settlement demand offer. Settlement memoranda must include specific required content elements.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Settlement Memoranda

What must be included with settlement conference filings before Judge Ann Marie Donio?

The rule requires attorney appearance, personal appearance, and settlement authority. All parties and representatives with settlement authority must appear in person.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Personal Appearance of Parties Required

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Ann Marie Donio?

Requests should be made at least 7 calendar days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Ann Marie Donio. The request must include reason for request and adversary position. Settlement conference adjournment requests require informal letter with good cause, specific reasons, and opposing counsel's position, submitted at least 7 days in advance unless extraordinary circumstances exist.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Requests to Continue and/or to Adjourn Settlement Conferences
Complete rules summary for Judge Ann Marie Donio

Settlement memoranda must include specific required content elements.

Settlement memoranda must be submitted to chambers via email one week before conference.

All parties and representatives with settlement authority must appear in person.

Requests for excused absence must be in writing 3 days before conference.

Corporate entities must have both corporate representative and outside counsel present.

Government attorneys may be excused if they have primary responsibility and negotiation authority.

Settlement conference adjournment requests require informal letter with good cause, specific reasons, and opposing counsel's position, submitted at least 7 days in advance unless extraordinary circumstances exist.

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