A Special Master is appointed as an officer of the court to perform many specific functions that will assist a Judge. Often a Special Master is appointed in matters of a highly technical nature: a Special Master may manage discovery, decide and report on dispositive motions, make determinations of damages or serve as a neutral expert for the Court. The use of a Special Master is frequently seen in complicated intellectual property and mass tort cases; however use of a Special Master is not limited to these areas.
|