SPECIAL MASTER
Under Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, unless a statute provides otherwise, a court may appoint a master only to:
(A) Perform duties consented by the parties;
(B) Hold trial proceedings and make or recommend findings of
fact on issues to be decided without a jury if appointment is
warranted by:
(i) Some exceptional condition; or
(ii) The need to perform an accounting or receive a difficult
computation of damages;
© Post-trial address pretrial and posttrial matters that cannot be effectively and timely addressed by an available district judge or magistrate judge of the district.
There are limitations within this rule as to the scope of authority of the special master. Check with Retired Judge Thomas Padrick as to availability in this area.
