Minutes | Filed: February 17, 2026
| Entered: February 17, 2026
Isaac v. Grimes et al
Motor Vehicle | New York Eastern
Initial Conference Hearing
Electronic Minute Entry for the Initial Conference held on February 17, 2026, before Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks.
APPEARANCES:
Frank Russell, Esq., on behalf of the Plaintiff.
Stephen Kusnetz, Esq., on behalf of the Defendants.
THE FOLLOWING RULINGS WERE MADE:
Following discussion with counsel during the Initial Conference and review of the submitted worksheet, the Court adopted a Scheduling Order which is attached at ECF No. 19 .
A Status Conference has been scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 9:30 AM via the Court's Video Zoom. A Final Pre-Trial Conference has been scheduled for January 25, 2027, at 11:00 AM via the Court's Video Zoom. The Court will e-mail the Zoom invitations closer to the conference dates. All participants involved shall comply with Judge Wicks' Individual Rules regarding Expectations for Remote Appearances (see Rule § 1E).
A proposed Joint Pre-Trial Order ("JPTO") in compliance with the Individual Practice Rules of this Court, or of the assigned District Judge if the parties do not consent to this Court, signed by counsel for each party, must be filed on ECF by January 19, 2027. If a Motion for Summary Judgment is pending, the final Pre-Trial Conference will be cancelled and filing of the proposed JPTO will be held in abeyance.
As mentioned during the Initial Conference, counsel for the parties are reminded to review Docket Entry No. 6 , concerning the assignment of a Magistrate Judge to oversee this case and Administrative Order No. 2025-14. By February 24, 2026, the parties MUST review and file EITHER the Notice of Option to Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction form consenting to the jurisdiction of the undersigned OR the Direct Assignment Program Acknowledgement form that confirms that they have conferred with each other and their respective client(s) regarding the option to consent to the undersigned. If the parties do not consent to the undersigned by the date set forth above, the Clerk of Court will be directed to randomly assign a District Judge to this case. In that event, this Court will remain on the case and preside over all non-dispositive pretrial matters unless the assigned District Judge orders otherwise. The parties are advised that pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(2), the parties are free to withhold consent without any adverse substantive consequences.
The undersigned is available for a Settlement Conference if the parties so desire. In the event the parties would like a Settlement Conference, the parties are directed to contact the undersigned's Courtroom Deputy, via e-mail at Eric_Russo@nyed.uscourts.gov, with mutually convenient dates that the parties are available.
SO ORDERED by Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks on February 17, 2026. (Time Log # 12:29 - 12:36, by Video - via Zoom) (ELR)