In both state and federal court, a Special Master may be appointed as an officer of the court to perform many specific functions that will assist the court during the pendency of a case. Often a Special Master is appointed in matters of a very specific 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 also frequently seen in complicated intellectual property and mass tort cases. The appointment of a Special Master is often initiated at the request of the parties, especially on issues that deserve very close attention or immediate action. The use of a Special Master during the course of a case is on the rise given the lengthy dockets and heavy case loads of courts.