Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00469/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00469-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 443
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Accommodations
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

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1 07cv469 J (NLS)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRIS LANGER,

Plaintiff,

v.

EL CAJON MOTORS, a California

corporation and DOES 1 through 100,

inclusive,

Defendants.

 

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Civil No.07cv469 J (NLS)

NOTICE AND ORDER SETTING

TELEPHONIC EARLY NEUTRAL

EVALUATION CONFERENCE

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation (“ENE”) of your case will be

held telephonically on May 22, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes. Counsel for

plaintiff(s) shall be responsible for initiating the telephonic ENE. The purpose of the ENE is to permit

an informal discussion between the attorneys, parties, and the settlement judge of every aspect of the

lawsuit in an effort to achieve an early resolution of the case. All conference discussions will be

informal, off the record, privileged and confidential. Counsel for any non-English speaking parties is

responsible for arranging for the appearance of an interpreter at the conference. Absent extraordinary

circumstances, requests for continuances will not be considered unless submitted in writing no less

than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled conference.

All parties, adjusters for insured defendants, and other representatives of a party having full and

complete authority to enter into a binding settlement, and the principal attorneys responsible for the

litigation, must be present by telephone and must be legally and factually prepared to discuss settlement

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2 07cv469 J (NLS)

of the case. Full authority to settle means that the individuals at the ENE 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, 653 (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, 485-486 (D. Ariz. 2003). One of the purposes of requiring a person with

unlimited settlement authority to attend the conference is that the person’s view of the case may be

altered during the face-to-face conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. at 486. Limited or sum certain authority

is not adequate. Nick v. Morgan’s Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 595-597 (8th Cir. 2001). Counsel

appearing without their clients (whether or not counsel has been given settlement authority) will be

cause for immediate imposition of sanctions and will also result in the immediate termination of the

conference. Sanctions will include, but will not be limited to, the attorney’s fees and travel costs of the

other parties in the case.

Based upon the Court’s familiarity with these matters and in the interest of promoting the

just, efficient and economical determination of this action, the Court hereby issues the following

Mandatory Procedures to be followed by the parties in preparing for the ENE.

1. All Formal Discovery is stayed until the completion of the ENE.

2. No later than April 24, 2007, plaintiff's counsel shall serve on opposing counsel and

lodge with Magistrate Judge Stormes’ chambers a statement, not in excess of five pages, including:

(a) An itemized list of all claimed violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

on the subject premises;

(b) A statement of the amount of damages claimed by plaintiff in this action and by

what legal authority plaintiff is entitled to such damages;

(c) The amount claimed for attorney's fees and costs; and

(d) The plaintiff's demand for settlement of the case in its entirety.

(e) Plaintiff’s statement shall include as an attachment, any expert or consultant

report regarding the premises and the alleged violations. In addition, at the ENE, plaintiff's counsel shall

be prepared to present for in camera review, documentation in support of the amount of attorney's fees

and costs claimed.

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3 07cv469 J (NLS)

3. After service of plaintiff’s statement and no later than May 8, 2007, counsel for the

parties, and any unrepresented parties, shall meet and confer in person at the subject premises

regarding settlement of (1) the alleged premise violations, and (2) damages, costs and attorney’s fees. 

Plaintiff’s counsel shall be responsible to make the arrangements for the conference. The meet and

confer obligation cannot be satisfied by telephone or the exchange of letters.

4. No later than May 15, 2007, counsel for all parties shall lodge with Magistrate Judge

Stormes’ chambers a joint statement not in excess of two (2) pages, certifying that the required inperson conference between counsel has taken place and setting forth the results of the meet and confer

and the issues remaining to be discussed at the time of the ENE.

5. In the event the case does not settle prior to or at the ENE, the court will issue a

scheduling order setting deadlines for completing discovery and dates for other pre-trial proceedings.

The failure of any party to follow these mandatory procedures shall result in the imposition

of sanctions.

Questions regarding this case or the mandatory guidelines set forth herein may be directed to the

Magistrate Judge's law clerks at (619) 557-5391. 

A Notice of Right to Consent to Trial Before a United States Magistrate Judge is attached for

your information.

DATED: April 12, 2007

Hon. Nita L. Stormes

U.S. Magistrate Judge

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4 07cv469 J (NLS)

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONSENT TO TRIAL

BEFORE A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), YOU ARE HEREBY

NOTIFIED THAT A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THIS DISTRICT MAY, UPON THE

CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, ON FORM 1A AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, CONDUCT

ANY OR ALL PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING A JURY OR NON-JURY TRIAL, AND ORDER THE

ENTRY OF A FINAL JUDGMENT. COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE

FOR OBTAINING THE CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, SHOULD THEY DESIRE TO CONSENT.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOUR DECISION TO CONSENT OR NOT TO

CONSENT IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY. ONLY IF ALL PARTIES CONSENT WILL THE JUDGE

OR MAGISTRATE JUDGE TO WHOM THE CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED BE INFORMED OF

YOUR DECISION.

JUDGMENTS OF THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGES ARE APPEALABLE TO THE U.S.

COURT OF APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE FEDERAL RULES

OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE.

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