News Item
‘Rocket Docket’ pilot project to expand in 2016

Posted: Monday, November 9, 2015

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A recent Minnesota Supreme Court order will expand an existing pilot project that aims to improve the manner in which district courts process civil cases to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of civil cases.
 
The Expedited Litigation Track (ELT) pilot project – sometimes referred to as “Rocket Docket” – has been in place in two Minnesota locations since July 2013: Dakota County in the First Judicial District, and St. Louis County (Duluth) in the Sixth Judicial District. Under the pilot, certain civil cases filed in these courts – including cases involving contract disputes, consumer credit, and personal injury – are assigned to the ELT pilot track. Those cases are managed through a process that assures early involvement by a judge; limited discovery; curtailed continuances; and the setting of a trial date within four to six months of filing of the action or, where applicable, assignment to ELT.
 
A recent evaluation of the pilot found positive results, including modest improvement in the time to disposition of the cases involved in the pilot. In addition, lawyers and litigants reported through survey responses that the ELT improved the overall quality of justice and access to the courts. 
 
Based on the encouraging results of the first pilot evaluation and court user surveys, the Supreme Court’s order expands the pilot in the following ways:
  • Hennepin County added to the ELT pilot: Hennepin County District Court, which represents Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District, will be added to the pilot, and will begin assigning certain civil cases to the ELT.
  • Additional cases assigned to ELT: In all three pilot courts, conciliation court appeals will be assigned to the ELT. With this addition, ELT now encompasses five civil cases types, as listed on Form 23 appended to the Rules of Civil Procedure: Consumer Credit Contract, Other Contract, Personal Injury, Other Civil, and Conciliation Court Appeals. In addition, all eligible civil cases filed in Dakota County District Court will be assigned to the ELT (currently, only a random selection of cases are assigned to the ELT in Dakota County).
The changes are effective January 1, 2016, and apply to all civil actions identified in the order that are filed on or after the effective date.
 
“Ensuring access to justice and the timely administration of justice is one of our highest priorities in Minnesota’s court system,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Christopher Dietzen, liaison to the Minnesota Supreme Court Civil Justice Reform Task Force that recommended the pilot program. “We have been encouraged by our early experience with the Expedited Litigation Track in Dakota County and Duluth, and are pleased by the positive feedback we’ve received from those who have been involved in these cases. By expanding the pilot, we hope to gather more data to assess the ultimate impact of this new approach to civil case management.”
 
Assignment of cases to the ELT is mandatory, subject to the right of a party to bring a motion within a certain time period to opt out.  In Hennepin County, the case types Other Contract, Personal Injury, and Other Civil will be included in the pilot program at the discretion of the assigned judge.
 
The Supreme Court order expanding the Expedited Litigation Track pilot project can be found here.