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Judge sets trial-memorandum deadline and tentative trial dates in asset-dissipation family case
Summary
In a contested family/asset-dissipation matter, the court ordered attorneys to file a trial memorandum listing disputed assets by Jan. 26 and set tentative trial dates in February/March to streamline evidence and valuation disputes.
The Cumberland County court addressed a multi-issue family and asset-dissipation dispute in which parties seek valuations and resolution of claims over farm assets and equipment.
Counsel for the parties told the judge they had substantially completed depositions and discussed valuations and potential sale of assets. The court directed both sides to present a concise trial memorandum by Jan. 26 listing the specific assets in dispute, the factual issues the court must decide and any valuations or appraisals the parties will rely on.
The judge said the memorandum should help narrow issues and urged counsel to identify items that are not in dispute. Tentative trial dates were discussed for February or March, with the court proposing specific two-day windows (such as Feb. 10-11 or later dates); the judge emphasized judicial economy and the need for an orderly presentation of proof rather than an open-ended item-by-item recounting.
The court also allowed the parties to work toward stipulations where possible and set a rule day (Dec. 18) as a checkpoint for progress on pretrial materials. The court warned that if trial packages were not prepared, the matter could be continued but underscored the preference to narrow disputes through pretrial memoranda.
Next steps: attorneys must exchange and file trial memoranda by Jan. 26 and be prepared for the court's rule day in December to resolve remaining scheduling matters. The court indicated it would set final trial dates after reviewing the memoranda.
