Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-02699/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-02699-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 35:145 Patent Infringement

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FUJINON CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v.

LG ELECTRONICS U.S.A., INC.; LG

ELECTRONICS MOBILECOMM U.S.A.,

INC.; LG INNOTEK U.S.A., INC.;

LG ELECTRONICS MOBILE RESEARCH

U.S.A., L.L.C.; LG ELECTRONICS

INC.; and LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.,

Defendants. 

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. 06CV2699-LAB (BLM)

NOTICE AND ORDER FOR EARLY

NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE

IN PATENT CASE

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) of your

case will be held on July 11, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in the chambers of the

Honorable Barbara L. Major, United States Magistrate Judge, 940 Front

Street, Suit 5140, San Diego, California 92101.

The following are mandatory guidelines for the parties preparing

for the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference.

1. Purpose of Conference: 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

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 1 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1 “Full settlement authority” means that the individuals at the settlement

conference must be authorized to explore settlement options fully and to agree at that

time to any settlement terms acceptable to the parties. Heileman Brewing Co. 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, 485-86 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose of requiring

a person with unlimited settlement authority to attend the conference contemplates that

-2- 06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

an early resolution of the case. All conference discussions will be

informal, off the record, privileged, and confidential. Counsel for any

non-English speaking party is responsible for arranging for the

appearance of an interpreter at the conference.

2. Personal Appearance of Parties Required: 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 in person and legally and factually prepared to discuss

settlement of the case. Counsel appearing without their clients

(whether or not counsel has been given settlement authority) will be

cause for immediate imposition of sanctions and may also result in the

immediate termination of the conference.

Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, persons required to

attend the conference pursuant to this Order shall not be excused from

personal attendance. Requests for excuse from attendance for

extraordinary circumstances shall be made in writing at least seventytwo (72) hours prior to the conference. Failure to appear at the ENE

conference will be grounds for sanctions.

3. Full Settlement Authority Required: In addition to counsel

who will try the case, a party or party representative with full

settlement authority1 must be present for the conference. In the case

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 2 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

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. See Nick v. Morgan’s

Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 595-97 (8th Cir. 2001).

-3- 06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

of a corporate entity, an authorized representative of the corporation

who is not retained outside counsel must be present and must have

discretionary authority to commit the company to pay an amount up to the

amount of the Plaintiff’s prayer (excluding punitive damages prayers).

The purpose of this requirement is to have representatives present who

can settle the case during the course of the conference without

consulting a superior. Counsel for a government entity may be excused

from this requirement so long as the government attorney who attends the

ENE 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 having ultimate settlement

authority.

4. Confidential ENE Statements Required: No later than five (5)

court days prior to the ENE, the parties shall submit confidential

statements no more than five (5) pages in length directly to the

chambers of the Honorable Barbara L. Major. These statements shall not

be filed or served on opposing counsel. Each party’s confidential

statement must include the following:

a. A brief description of the case, the claims and/or

counterclaims asserted, and the applicable defenses or position

regarding the asserted claims;

b. A specific and current demand or offer for settlement

addressing all relief or remedies sought. If a specific demand or offer

for settlement cannot be made at the time the brief is submitted, then

the reasons therefore must be stated along with a statement as to when

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 3 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

-4- 06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

the party will be in a position to state a demand or make an offer; and

c. A brief description of any previous settlement

negotiations, mediation sessions, or mediation efforts.

General statements that a party will "negotiate in good faith" is

not a specific demand or offer contemplated by this Order. It is

assumed that all parties will negotiate in good faith.

In addition, parties are encouraged to include in the statement or

bring to the ENE appropriate demonstrative aids to assist the court in

understanding the invention(s) at issue in the litigation.

5. New Parties Must be Notified by Plaintiff’s Counsel:

Plaintiff’s counsel shall give notice of the ENE to parties responding

to the complaint after the date of this notice.

6. Case Management Under the Amended Federal Rules and the Local

Patent Rules: In the event the case does not settle at the ENE, the

Court will conduct an Initial Case Management Conference. In

preparation for this conference, the parties must

a. Meet and confer pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) no

later than twenty-one (21) days before the ENE.

b. Lodge a joint Case Management Statement with Magistrate

Judge Barbara L. Major seven (7) days before the ENE. The statement

must address all of the topics set forth in Rule 26 as well as the

following:

i. Any proposed modification of the deadlines provided

for in the Patent Local Rules, and the effect of any such modification

on the date and time of the Claim Construction Hearing, if any;

ii. Whether the court will hear live testimony at the

Claim Construction Hearing;

iii. The need for and specific limitations on discovery

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 4 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

-5- 06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

relating to claim construction, including depositions of percipient and

expert witnesses;

iv. The order of presentation at the Claim Construction

Hearing;

v. Any proposed modifications to the limitations on

discovery imposed under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or by local

rule; and

vi. Any issues or agreements relating to electronically

stored information or protective orders.

c. Exchange initial disclosures pursuant to Rule 26(a)(1)(AD) no later than seven (7) days prior to the ENE.

7. Requests to Continue an ENE Conference: Local Patent Rule

2.1.a requires that an ENE take place within sixty (60) days of the

filing of the first answer. Requests to continue ENEs are rarely

granted. However, the Court will consider formal, written ex parte

requests to continue an ENE conference when extraordinary circumstances

exist that make a continuance appropriate. In and of itself, having to

travel a long distance to appear in person is not “extraordinary.”

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.

Questions regarding this case or the mandatory guidelines set forth

herein may be directed to the Magistrate Judge's law clerk at (619) 557-

7372.

Dated: May 21, 2007

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 5 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

-6- 06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

COPY TO:

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

ALL COUNSEL

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 6 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

-7- 06cv2699-LAB (BLM)

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 and should be communicated solely to the Clerk of

Court. Only if all parties consent will the Judge or Magistrate Judge

to whom the case has been assigned be informed of your decision.

Judgements of 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.

Case 3:06-cv-02699-LAB-BLM Document 16 Filed 05/21/07 Page 7 of 7