Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-02654/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-02654-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 05:0552pa Right to Privacy Act

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13-CV-2654-BAS (WVG)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BEE, DENNING, INC.,

Plaintiff,

v.

CAPITAL ALLIANCE GROUP,

Defendant.

Case No.: 13-CV-2654-BAS (WVG)

ORDER RESCHEDULING 

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE 

The Mandatory Settlement Conference set for May 24, 2016, at 9:00 a.m., is 

VACATED and RESET for May 26, 2016, at 9:00 a.m., in the chambers of Magistrate 

Judge William V. Gallo. Counsel shall submit settlement statements directly to chambers 

no later than May 19, 2016. Each party's settlement statement shall set forth the party's 

statement of the case, identify controlling legal issues, concisely set out issues of liability 

and damages, and shall set forth the party's settlement position, including the last offer or 

demand made by that party, and a separate statement of the offer or demand the party is 

prepared to make at the settlement conference. Settlement conference briefs shall not be 

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filed with the Clerk of the Court, but may be served on opposing counsel at the party's 

discretion. Settlement conference briefs shall comply with the undersigned's 

Chambers Rules. The parties shall meet and confer in good faith prior to the Mandatory 

Settlement Conference, and verify that they have done so in their respective Mandatory 

Settlement Conference statements, outlining the substance of their discussions and 

negotiations.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16 and Local Civil Rule 16.3, all named 

Plaintiffs, named Defendants, claims adjusters for insured defendants, and if a named 

Plaintiff or Defendant is a corporation, partnership, or other entity, a representative of that 

entity, with full and unlimited authority1/to negotiate and enter into a binding settlement, 

as well as the principal attorney(s) responsible for the litigation, must be present and must 

be prepared to discuss in good faith, the facts of the case, the law that governs the legal 

issues in the case, and to resolve the case at the Settlement Conference. Sanctions may 

issue against a party and/or attorney who does not proceed as noted above. Retained 

outside corporate counsel shall not appear on behalf of a corporation as the party who has 

the authority to negotiate and enter into a settlement. For good cause, and on ex parte 

application at least one week before the scheduled settlement conference, Magistrate Judge 

Gallo may excuse a party or representative from personal attendance provided such party 

 

1/ "Full authority to settle" means that the individuals at the settlement conference must 

be authorized to fully explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement 

terms acceptable to the parties. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 

648 (7th Cir. 1989). The person needs to have "unfettered discretion and authority" to 

change the settlement position of a party. Pitman v. Brinker Int'l, Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 

485-86 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose of requiring a person with unlimited settlement 

authority to attend the conference includes that the person's view of the case may be altered 

during the face to face conference. Id. at 486. A limited or a sum certain of authority is 

not adequate. Nick v. Morgan's Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590 (8th Cir. 2001).

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or parties will be available by telephone during the conference. Failure to attend the 

conference or participate in good faith or obtain proper excuse will be considered grounds 

for sanctions. Counsel seeking to reschedule a Settlement Conference must first confer 

with opposing counsel. The Court will consider formal, written ex parte requests to 

continue a Settlement Conference when extraordinary circumstances exist that make a 

continuance appropriate. In and of itself, having to travel a long distance to appear at the 

Settlement Conference is not an extraordinary circumstance.

Counsel for a government entity may be excused from this requirement so long as 

the government attorney who attends the Settlement Conference (1) has primary 

responsibility for handling the case; and (2) may negotiate settlement offers which the 

attorney is willing to recommend to the government official who has ultimate settlement 

authority.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 27, 2016

Case 3:13-cv-02654-BAS-WVG Document 57 Filed 01/27/16 Page 3 of 3