Code of Civil Procedure Article 268-1

After a preparatory proceeding by exchange of pleadings has been completed in accordance with the provisions of the two preceding articles, the presiding judge or the commissioned judge shall promptly designate a date for the oral-argument session or the preparatory session. The court shall require the parties to formulate and agree on simplifying the issues.The presiding judge may, if necessary, order the parties to submit a pleading summarizing the result of the formulation of the issues within the period of time to be designated by the judge.The pleading provided in the preceding paragraph shall be made in concise writing, in orderly itemized paragraphs, and must not make general reference to the previous statements presented in pleadings or orally.