Nevada's Short Trial Program

Steve Klearman

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 535

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As I indicated a blog or two ago, cases that are appealed from arbitration or fail in mediation may proceed into Nevada's Short Trial Program. Here's an overview of that program:

-A presiding judge is appointed and hears all motions.

-The parties exchange document and witness lists and meet for a pretrial conference to chart out the course of the case.

-The case is calendared and set for trial to commence not later than 120 days from the date the judge was assigned.

-Parties may quote from depositions rather than call witnesses, and other evidentiary rules are relaxed.

-Expert witnesses may be used but the use of live expert testimony is discouraged.

-A jury of 4 to 6 members is chosen.

-A judgment may not exceed $40,000.00 per plaintiff.

-Diehard parties may appeal a case within the Short Trial Program directly to the Nevada Supreme Court.

I'll discuss incentives and financial risks built into Nevada's ADR system in my next blog or two.