Judge Laura K. McNally
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Each settlement statement should be double-spaced and limited to 10 pages, excluding attached exhibits.
Settlement statements should be no more than 10 double-spaced pages each. Exhibits are not required, but if they are attached, they do not count toward the page limit.
Settlement Statement
10 pages
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Settlement statements should be no more than 10 double-spaced pages each.
Summary: Settlement statements limited to 10 double-spaced pages.
Settlement Statement
10 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Document Filing Requirements28 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Plaintiff’s counsel must submit a settlement statement describing the action, liability theory, itemized damages, and demand.
Consistent with the schedule that is set, plaintiff’s counsel must submit a settlement statement to defendant’s counsel, describing the nature of the action, the theory of liability, itemization of damages, and plaintiff’s demand.
Document Type
Plaintiff Settlement Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Defendant’s counsel must submit a settlement statement describing the defense theory and defendant’s offer.
Defendant’s counsel must thereafter submit a settlement statement to plaintiff’s counsel, describing the theory of defense and defendant’s offer.
Document Type
Defendant Settlement Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Settlement statements must identify all settlement-conference attendees and state each person’s role.
The parties must include in their statements the names of all individuals who will be attending the settlement conference, along with their role.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Counsel must provide their clients the complete set of settlement statements to read before the conference.
All counsel are required to provide the full set of the settlement statements to their clients to read prior to the conference.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
If the parties reach an agreement, they must detail its material terms at the conclusion of the conference.
If the parties are successful in reaching an agreement, they will be required to detail the material terms of the settlement at the conclusion of the conference.
Document Type
Settlement Agreement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Statements made during the settlement conference are confidential, may not be used in discovery, and are inadmissible at trial.
Statements made by any party during the settlement conference are confidential, are not to be used in discovery, and will not be admissible at trial.
Requirement
Document requirement
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
The joint initial status report must address pending or anticipated motions, confidentiality, a detailed discovery plan, and any other topic the parties wish to raise.
The joint initial status report shall contain: 1) The nature and timing of any pending or anticipated motions 2) Proposal for addressing confidentiality concerns, if applicable 3) Proposed discovery plan, including: a) Any existing discovery cut-off dates b) The type/extent of discovery needed to engage in meaningful settlement negotiations, either now or at a later point c) Deadline for service of Rule 26(a)(1) disclosures d) Deadline for issuance of initial written discovery requests e) Deadline for completion of fact discovery (including treating physician discovery, if applicable) f) Party agreements, if any, regarding the scope of discovery, such as date restrictions or obligations relating to privilege logs g) Comprehensive expert discovery schedule, including interim dates for serving expert reports and rebuttal reports and a final date for completion of all expert discovery. If the parties agree on staggered expert discovery, the proposed schedule should set out those staggered dates. h) Description of the anticipated scope of discovery involving electronically stored information (ESI) and the potential methodologies for identifying ESI for production. i) Please note the Court has adopted the Principles of the Seventh Circuit Electronic Discovery Pilot Program, and the parties should be familiar with them. ii) In patent cases, the court will apply the Local Patent Rules for Electronically Stored Information. iii) To assist counsel in discovery, the Court has prepared a sample ESI order that can govern non-complex ESI discovery. For complex ESI discovery, including discovery that uses technology assisted review ===== PAGE 2 ===== (TAR), the Court will consider entering a more detailed proposed order submitted by the parties, with an accompanying motion. 4) Any other topic the parties wish to bring to the Court’s attention.
Document Type
Joint Initial Status Report
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
Counsel claiming a party cannot pay a judgment or settlement should raise the issue at the video conference and provide verification before the settlement conference.
If a party is claiming an inability to pay a judgment or settlement, counsel should also raise this issue at the video conference and will be expected to provide verification of that fact prior to the settlement conference.
Document Type
Verification Of Inability To Pay
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
Exhibits to settlement statements should be attached to the Court email or shared electronically for the Court to download.
Exhibits, if any, to settlement statements should be attached to the email sent to the Court, or counsel should utilize an electronic file sharing service and the Court will download the exhibits.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Insured parties must include the identity of any insurer representative who will be attending as well (see below for more information on insurer participation).
Summary: Insured parties’ settlement statements must identify any insurer representative who will attend.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
In such cases, counsel must advise the Court and all parties of this restriction in the settlement letter and must identify the legal basis for this requirement.
Summary: When settlement requires separate board or governmental ratification, counsel must disclose the restriction and identify its legal basis in the settlement letter to the Court and all parties.
Document Type
Settlement Letter
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
The parties' settlement statements are not to be filed on ECF,
Summary: Settlement statements must not be filed on ECF.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
On the same day the parties provide their settlement statements to opposing counsel, the parties are required to submit their statements to the Court by e-mail.
Summary: Settlement statements must be emailed to court on same day as opposing counsel.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
If a party is a corporation or governmental entity, a representative of that corporation or governmental entity (other than counsel of record) with authorization to negotiate and authority to settle the case must personally participate.
Summary: Corporate/governmental entities must send authorized representative (not counsel).
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Absent agreement of the parties and leave of court, if a party is an individual, that individual must personally participate.
Summary: Individual parties must personally participate unless court grants leave.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Having a client or representative with authority reachable by telephone during the settlement conference is not an acceptable alternative, except under the most unusual and extenuating circumstances (and must be approved by the Court ahead of time in those cases).
Summary: Telephone participation not acceptable except with prior court approval.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Occasionally, such as in cases involving certain public entities, settlements require separate board or governmental ratification of proposed terms. In such cases, counsel must advise the Court and all parties of this restriction in the settlement letter and must identify the legal basis for this requirement.
Summary: Must advise court of ratification requirements in settlement letter with legal basis.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
If the settlement is expected to involve funds from an insurer, the insurer representative must attend with authority to discuss financial contributions and other terms.
Summary: Insurer representative must attend with settlement authority if funds involved.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
All counsel are required to provide the full set of the settlement statements to their clients to read prior to the conference.
Summary: Counsel must provide full settlement statements to clients before conference.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Except in the rarest of circumstances, individuals with settlement authority on behalf of the parties are ordered to personally participate in the entire settlement conference.
Summary: Settlement authority individuals must personally attend entire conference.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
For represented parties, an attorney with substantial familiarity with and responsibility for the case shall appear at the initial status conference.
Summary: Attorney with substantial familiarity must appear at initial status conference.
Document Type
Initial Status Conference
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?
Pro se parties must attend the initial status conference.
Summary: Pro se parties must attend initial status conference.
Document Type
Initial Status Conference
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
If the parties cannot agree on any component of the report, counsel for the parties shall meet and meaningfully confer in good faith by phone, video, or in person. If areas of disagreement persist after that conference, the parties may set forth each party’s position separately and succinctly without argument, along with a joint certification that summarizes the dates, times, and duration(s) of the good faith conference(s).
Summary: When counsel cannot agree on a report component, they must confer in good faith; if disagreement remains, they may state each position separately and succinctly without argument and include a joint certification of the conference dates, times, and durations.
Document Type
Joint Initial Status Report
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
Failure to comply with this provision without good cause will result in an order requiring the party in violation to reimburse the opposing party’s attorney fees and costs related to preparing for and appearing at the settlement conference.
Summary: Non-compliance may result in reimbursement of opposing party's fees and costs.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
Counsel and parties are cautioned that failure to attend a scheduled settlement conference without advance notice to the Court may result in the imposition of monetary sanctions against them.
Summary: No-show without advance notice may result in monetary sanctions.
Structured details unavailable. See the source text.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?
counsel must come to the initial status conference prepared to address settlement discussions.
Summary: Counsel must be prepared to discuss settlement at initial status conference.
Document Type
Initial Status Conference
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Exhibits, if any, to settlement statements should be attached to the email sent to the Court, or counsel should utilize an electronic file sharing service and the Court will download the exhibits.
Summary: Exhibits to settlement statements must be attached to email or shared via file sharing service.
Document Type
Settlement Statement
Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?
Represented parties are not required to attend, so long as counsel is prepared to proceed with discussion on the topics above without their clients in attendance.
Summary: Clients of represented parties need not attend initial status conference.
Document Type
Initial Status Conference
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Parties must email their settlement statements to the Court on the same day they provide them to opposing counsel.
On the same day the parties provide their settlement statements to opposing counsel, the parties are required to submit their statements to the Court by e-mail.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | Before the Settlement Conference—Telephonic Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Statements
Settlement statements must not be filed on ECF and will not enter the Court’s record or be admissible in this action or related litigation.
The parties’ settlement statements are not to be filed on ECF, will not be made part of the Court’s record, and will not be admissible as evidence in this action or in other litigation related to this dispute.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Before the Settlement Conference—Telephonic Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Statements
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Having an authorized client or representative available by telephone is not a substitute for attendance unless unusual and extenuating circumstances apply and the Court approves in advance.
Having a client or representative with authority reachable by telephone during the settlement conference is not an acceptable alternative, except under the most unusual and extenuating circumstances (and must be approved by the Court ahead of time in those cases).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
A corporation or governmental entity must have a non-record-counsel representative authorized to negotiate and settle personally participate.
If a party is a corporation or governmental entity, a representative of that corporation or governmental entity (other than counsel of record) with authorization to negotiate and authority to settle the case must personally participate.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
Individuals with settlement authority must personally participate in the entire settlement conference, except in the rarest circumstances.
Except in the rarest of circumstances, individuals with settlement authority on behalf of the parties are ordered to personally participate in the entire settlement conference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
If insurance may pay any portion of the settlement, an insurer representative with authority to discuss financial contributions and other terms must attend.
In addition, if there is a potential for insurance coverage to pay any portion of the settlement, an insurer representative must attend with authority to discuss financial contributions and other terms.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
Without good cause, noncompliance will result in an order requiring reimbursement of the opposing party’s attorney fees and costs for preparing for and attending the conference.
Failure to comply with this provision without good cause will result in an ===== PAGE 4 ===== order requiring the party in violation to reimburse the opposing party’s attorney fees and costs related to preparing for and appearing at the settlement conference.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
Bring discovery disputes to the Court well before the cutoff; after the cutoff, parties must show the dispute could not have been raised earlier.
All discovery disputes requiring Court intervention should be brought to the Court’s attention well before the relevant discovery cutoff. Parties raising a discovery dispute after the cutoff must demonstrate that the dispute could not have been raised before the deadline.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Discovery-Related Motions
The insurer-representative attendance requirement does not apply if the insurer disclaimed coverage or agreed in advance to pay its limits.
This requirement of attendance does not apply if the insurer has disclaimed coverage or agreed to pay its limits in advance of the settlement conference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
The settlement conference may be held in person at the courthouse or remotely via WebEx.
The settlement conference can take place in person in the courthouse or remotely via WebEx.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | Conference Format
The parties should discuss their preferred conference format before the scheduling videoconference.
The parties should confer as to the preferred structure before the scheduling videoconference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | Conference Format
Discovery motions are not noticed for presentment; the Court decides whether a chambers-scheduled hearing is needed, response briefs require an order, and parties must be ready to argue if a hearing is held.
Discovery motions should not be noticed for presentment in accordance with Local Rule 5.3(b). The Court will review the motion and determine whether a hearing is necessary. Response briefs should not be filed absent order of the Court. If the Court determines a hearing is necessary, it will be scheduled by chambers and will either be in person, videoconference, or telephone depending on the circumstances. All parties must be fully prepared to argue the motion on the date of the hearing. The Court ordinarily will decide discovery motions on the date of the hearing and without briefing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Discovery-Related Motions
An individual party must personally participate unless the parties agree otherwise and the Court grants leave.
Absent agreement of the parties and leave of court, if a party is an individual, that individual must personally participate.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
The corporate or governmental entity representative’s attendance obligation applies even when an insurer will bear all settlement obligations.
That attendance obligation exists whether or not the financial obligations of settlement will be borne exclusively by an insurer.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
The parties are expected to discuss ratification-related limitations with the Court during a pre-conference call.
The parties will be expected to discuss the limitations arising from these requirements in a pre-conference call with the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 4 | Persons Required to Attend the Settlement Conference
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Discovery cutoff dates generally will not be reset unless good cause is shown.
Discovery cutoff dates generally will not be reset except by good cause shown.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Discovery-Related Motions
If parties agree informally to conduct discovery after the cutoff without moving for an extension, disputes raised after the cutoff are presumptively waived.
If the parties informally agree to conduct discovery after the discovery cutoff but do not move for an extension, any discovery disputes raised after the cutoff will be viewed as presumptively waived.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Discovery-Related Motions
Chambers Communication Rules
The parties should email Chambers as soon as possible if they need to reschedule or conclude that a settlement conference is unnecessary.
If the parties must reschedule, or if they conclude that a settlement conference is not necessary at this time, they should inform chambers (via email to Chambers_McNally@ilnd.uscourts.gov) as soon as possible.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 5 | Cancellation or Rescheduling of the Conference
Settlement statements must be emailed to specific court address.
All settlement statements should be sent to the Court via the following email address: Settlement_Correspondence_McNally@ilnd.uscourts.gov.
Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 2 | SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
Rescheduling or cancellation requires email to chambers as soon as possible.
If the parties must reschedule, or if they conclude that a settlement conference is not necessary at this time, they should inform chambers (via email to Chambers_McNally@ilnd.uscourts.gov) as soon as possible.
Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases
Settlement statements should be emailed to the Court at the specified address.
All settlement statements should be sent to the Court via the following email address: Settlement_Correspondence_McNally@ilnd.uscourts.gov.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Before the Settlement Conference—Telephonic Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Statements
A party may telephone chambers to request a same-day hearing when the stated conditions are met.
If, in the judgment of at least one of the parties at the deposition, the Court’s same-day intervention would further the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of the matter, and if the dispute reasonably can be presented briefly and orally, such party is welcome to telephone chambers to request a same-day hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Disputes Arising During Depositions