Rule 8:6-8. Local Property Tax Cases; Mandatory Settlement Conference

In all local property tax cases assigned to the standard track, the parties shall hold a mandatory settlement conference not later than four (4) months before the scheduled trial month as set forth in the case management notice. The date for the mandatory settlement conference shall be fixed by the designated case manager and shall be provided to the parties in the form specified by the court. Counsel for all parties and the assessor or the taxing district's appraisal consultant shall be present at the mandatory settlement conference, which may be conducted by telephone or in person at the office of the municipal assessor or such other place as agreed upon by the parties. At least seven (7) days prior to the date fixed for the mandatory settlement conference, plaintiff's counsel must furnish to defendant's counsel an appraisal by plaintiff's appraisal expert in the form specified by the court or a demand for reduction in assessment with support therefor. Results of the mandatory settlement conference shall be reported by the parties to the case manager in the form specified by the court within ten (10) days of the mandatory settlement conference. The mandatory settlement conference report shall include certifications that initial standard form interrogatories have or have not been served and answered by each party. The parties shall have ten (10) days from the date of notice of noncompliance to comply with the requirements of this rule. The failure of any party to receive a notice of noncompliance shall not relieve that party of the duty to comply.