Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00594/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00594-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 29:1001 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Retirement

---

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 07cv594-WQH(NLS)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TOM G. BEARD,

Plaintiff,

v.

SHUTTERMART OF CALIFORNIA, INC.,

a California Corporation, et al.,

Defendants. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Civil No.07cv594-WQH(NLS)

NOTICE AND ORDER SETTING

VOLUNTARY SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE

At the request of the parties, a Voluntary Settlement Conference shall be conducted in the abovecaptioned matter on March 26, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the chambers of United States Magistrate Judge

Nita L. Stormes, U.S. Courthouse, 940 Front Street, Room 1118, San Diego, California 92101. Counsel

or any party representing himself or herself shall submit confidential settlement briefs directly to

chambers no later than March 21, 2008. Plaintiff shall be responsible for providing notice of the

conference and a copy of this order to the appropriate representative of American Contractors Indemnity

Company. All conference participants are ordered to read and to fully comply with the attached

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PROCEDURES.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 3, 2008

Hon. Nita L. Stormes

U.S. Magistrate Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00594-WQH-NLS Document 51 Filed 03/03/08 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

2 07cv594-WQH(NLS)

CHAMBERS OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE NITA L. STORMES

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PROCEDURES

 

ATTENDANCE: 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 and legally and factually prepared to discuss settlement of the case. Full

authority to settle means that the individuals at the settlement conference 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). Failure of any of the aforementioned to

appear in person will result in the imposition of sanctions. Where settlement authority rests with a

governing body, counsel shall propose special arrangements in advance for securing timely authority to

settle. 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE BRIEFS: All parties are required to lodge a confidential settlement brief prior

to the Settlement Conference. Please refer to the Court’s order for the date by which the brief is due. 

Settlement briefs should not exceed ten (10) pages in length, double spaced, exclusive of exhibits, if any. 

Copies of all documents that might enhance the productivity of negotiations (e.g., contracts, key

correspondence or memos, reports of experts, photos, medical bills, wage loss statements, selected pages

from deposition transcripts or responses to other discovery) should be attached as exhibits to the settlement

briefs with significant portions highlighted for easy reference. Parties may also attach as exhibits helpful

judicial opinions and information about the settlement or judgment value of comparable cases.

* * * *

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE INFORMATION, EACH BRIEF

SHALL SET FORTH AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING

“REQUIRED” CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:

* * * *

(1) A brief analysis of the key issues involved in the litigation;

(2) A description of the strongest and weakest legal and factual points in the party’s case;

(3) A description of the strongest and weakest legal and factual points in the opponent’s

case;

(4) The status of any settlement negotiations, including the last settlement proposal made by

each party; and 

(5) The settlement proposal that the party is willing to make in order to conclude the matter

and spare the further expense of litigation.

Parties should hand deliver, mail, or electronically mail [efile_stormes@casd.uscourts.gov] the original

only of settlement briefs directly to chambers. FAX briefs will not be accepted. Settlement briefs are

confidential and shall not be served on opposing parties nor shall they be filed with the Clerk of the

Court. 

Case 3:07-cv-00594-WQH-NLS Document 51 Filed 03/03/08 Page 2 of 2