Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00984/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00984-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 340
Nature of Suit: Marine Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 46:688 Jones Act

---

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

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE MATTER OF A COMPLAINT OF

HARRY ELMER WILLIAMS AND

TAMARA WILLIAMS, REGISTERED

OWNERS of the 1988 53-foot Hyundai

Elegante MK V, HIN: HTG49015B888,

Official Number: 937193, named “OCEAN

VENTURES,” her engines, tackle, apparel,

etc. in a cause of Exoneration From or

Limitation of Liability,

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. 11cv00984-BTM (WMc)

ORDER CLARIFYING MANDATORY

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

REQUIREMENTS

An in-person Mandatory Settlement Conference (“MSC”) shall be conducted on November

5, 2012 at 9:15 a.m. in the chambers of Judge William McCurine, Jr. Counsel shall submit

simultaneous, confidential settlement briefs directly to chambers. Counsel shall submit their briefs

no later than ten (10) days before the MSC. The briefs shall set forth the party's statement of the case

and 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 MSC. MSC briefs

shall not exceed ten (10) pages in length, and shall not include exhibits or attachments. All parties

and claims adjusters for insured defendants and representatives with complete authority to enter

into a binding settlement, as well as the principal attorney (s) responsible for the litigation, must be

present and legally and factually prepared to discuss and resolve the case at the MSC. “Full

authority to settle” means that the individuals at the settlement conference must be authorized to

11cv00984-BTM (WMc)

Case 3:11-cv-00984-BTM-WMC Document 43 Filed 08/03/12 Page 1 of 2
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

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 Intl., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-486 (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). Any

special arrangements desired in cases where settlement authority rests with a governing body shall

be proposed in advance.

Finally, the Court has not set any conferences or hearings in this action for August 28, 2012.

Counsel is free to contact Judge McCurine’s chambers at anytime to discuss the prospect of setting

a settlement conference before or after the November 5, 2012 MSC. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 3, 2012

Hon. William McCurine, Jr.

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

2 11cv00984-BTM (WMc)

Case 3:11-cv-00984-BTM-WMC Document 43 Filed 08/03/12 Page 2 of 2