Chief Judge
Cass County
View state court bio
Contact with Chambers
• Preferred method to contact chambers: Email
• To whom may attorneys direct scheduling/logistical questions? Leann Sautbine
• To whom may attorneys direct substantive questions? Jaimie Bergerson
• Set forth your practices and procedures for scheduling motion hearings. Contact court admin for a date that works for the parties.
• Identify any type of motion for which you do not require a hearing. Where law identifies no need for a hearing.
• Do you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during depositions? I haven't, but I would consider that if requested by counsel.
• How much time do you allot for motion hearings? 15 min standard. 30 min summary Judgement or as requested.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attending a hearing by telephone or video conference. Zoom
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to discovery motions. Zoom
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to stipulations of the parties, including stipulations for protective orders. Submit stipulation/order for signature.
• Do you have any particular requests or procedures relating to requests to amend the scheduling order? Can change all times, but change in trial requires a hearing.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to default proceedings. Zoom
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to handling emergency motions. Statute and rules
• Do you want to receive paper courtesy copies of the parties' written submissions? If you do, set forth the number of courtesy copies and identify any document type you do not want to receive. Not generally.
• Set forth your preferences for handling informal requests for relief using the expedited, informal non-dispositive motion process set forth in Minn. Gen. R. practice 115.04(d). None.
Pre-Trial Procedures
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to the submissions of additional legal authority or other materials at or after oral arguments. Being practical.
• Describe your preferred procedures for pretrial settlement conferences, including the timing of such conferences, persons who must attend, whether persons may attend by telephone or video conference, and how you participate in settlement discussions. Case specific and addressed at scheduling conference.
• Identify what technology you use in the courtroom and state whether you prefer a particular electronic format. We try to adjust to attorney needs.
• Set forth your practices and procedures with respect to attorney’s use of technology in the courtroom and during trial. Here to make it work for attorneys.
• Do you permit parties to bifurcate oral argument so different attorneys address different legal issues? Yes. I try to be practical.