Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01832/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01832-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: Americans with Disabilities Act

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1 06cv1832 H(RBB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN WITH

DISABILITIES ADVOCATING ACCESS,

SUING ON BEHALF OF DELORES

JACKSON AND ITS MEMBERS;

DELORES JACKSON, an individual 

Plaintiffs,

v.

450 FLETCHER PARKWAY, et al.,

Defendants. 

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Civil No. 06cv1832 H(RBB)

NOTICE AND ORDER FOR EARLY

NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE

Due to the Court's calendar and in order to encourage maximum

participation of all litigants and the Court, good cause appears to

continue the early neutral evaluation conference beyond forty-five

days of the filing of the first answer.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an early neutral evaluation of your

case will be held on January 3, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. in the chambers

of United States Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks, United States

Courthouse, 940 Front Street, Room 1185, San Diego, California.

Pursuant to Rule 16.1(c) of the Local Rules of the United

States District Court for the Southern District of California, all

Case 3:06-cv-01832-H-RBB Document 29 Filed 11/29/06 Page 1 of 6
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 "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 (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. Pitman 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).

2 06cv1832 H(RBB)

parties, claims adjusters for insured Defendants and non-lawyer

representatives with full and unlimited authority1 to enter into a

binding settlement, as well as the principal attorneys responsible

for the litigation, must be present and legally and factually

prepared to discuss and resolve the case. Corporate counsel shall

not appear on behalf of a corporation as the party representative

who has the authority to negotiate and enter into a settlement. 

Failure to attend or obtain a proper excusal will be considered

grounds for sanctions. (Where the suit involves the United States

or one of its agencies, only counsel for the United States with

full settlement authority need appear.) (If Plaintiff is

incarcerated in a penal institution or other facility, the

Plaintiff's presence is not required and Plaintiff may participate

by telephone. In that case, defense counsel is to coordinate the

Plaintiff's appearance by telephone.)

Case 3:06-cv-01832-H-RBB Document 29 Filed 11/29/06 Page 2 of 6
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3 06cv1832 H(RBB)

Plaintiff's(s') counsel shall give notice of the Early Neutral

Evaluation Conference to all defendants filing an answer after the

date of this notice.

All conference discussions will be informal, off the record,

privileged and confidential. Absent good cause shown, if any

party, counsel, or representative fails to promptly appear at the

settlement conference, fails to comply with the terms of this

Order, including the failure to timely provide the settlement

conference memoranda, is substantially unprepared to meaningfully

participate in the settlement conference, or fails to participate

in good faith in the settlement conference, the settlement

conference may be vacated and sanctions may be imposed pursuant to

Rules 16(f) and 37(b)(2)(B), (C), and (D), Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure.

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 issues the following orders

at this time:

1. All discovery shall be stayed in this case until the

completion of the early neutral evaluation conference;

2. Twenty-one days prior to the currently set conference,

Plaintiff's counsel shall lodge (VIA FAX OR MAILED/HAND-DELIVERED

COPY) with Magistrate Judge Brooks's chambers and serve on opposing

counsel a statement, not in excess of five pages, including:

a. An itemized list of the specific issues on the

subject premises which are the basis of the claimed violations

under the Americans with Disabilities Act;

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b. A statement of the amount and category of damages

claimed by Plaintiff in this action;

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

and

d. The Plaintiff's demand for settlement of the case in

its entirety.

3. PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL SHALL BE PREPARED TO PRESENT

DOCUMENTATION TO THE COURT, AT THE EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION

CONFERENCE, TO SUPPORT THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS

CLAIMED FOR IN CAMERA REVIEW.

4. After service of Plaintiff's statement and no later than

fourteen days prior to the early neutral evaluation conference,

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 fee claims. Plaintiff's counsel shall be responsible for

making the arrangements for the conference. The meet and confer

obligation cannot be satisfied by telephone or the exchange of

letters. No later than seven days prior to the early neutral

evaluation conference, counsel shall lodge with Magistrate Judge

Brooks's chambers a joint statement certifying that the required

in-person conference between counsel has taken place and advising

the Court of the status of settlement negotiations and setting

forth all issues in dispute, including property issues, Plaintiff's

alleged damages, and the claim for attorney's fees and costs, along

with a description of any settlement demands and/or offers

exchanged.

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28 K:\COMMON\BROOKS\CASES\1983\JACKSON1832\ENENOT.WPD

revised 9/03

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In the event the case does not settle at the early neutral

evaluation conference, the parties shall also be prepared to

discuss the following matters at the conclusion of the conference:

1. Any anticipated objections under Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure 26(a)(1)(E) to the initial disclosure provisions of

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(A-D);

2. The scheduling of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26

(f) conference;

3. The date of initial disclosure and the date for lodging

the discovery plan following the Rule 26(f) conference; and

4. The scheduling of a case management conference pursuant to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b).

The Court will issue an order following the early neutral

evaluation conference addressing these issues and setting dates as

appropriate.

Questions regarding this case may be directed to the

magistrate judge's research attorney at (619) 557-3404.

Dated: November 27, 2006

RUBEN B. BROOKS

United States Magistrate Judge

cc: All Parties of Record

A Notice of Right to Consent to Trial Before a United States

Magistrate Judge is attached for your information.

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revised 9/03

6 06cv1832 H(RBB)

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONSENT TO TRIAL BY UNITED STATES

MAGISTRATE JUDGE

In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), you

are hereby notified that a United States Magistrate Judge of this

district may, upon the consent of all parties, conduct any or all

proceedings, including a jury or non-jury trial, and order the

entry of a final judgment. Consent forms are available in the

Clerk's office. 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 the Court. Only if all parties consent will the

district judge or magistrate judge to whom the case has been

assigned be informed of your decision.

Judgments of the United States Magistrate Judges are

appealable to the United States Court of Appeals in accordance with

this statute and the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure unless

the parties at the time of their consent to trial before a

magistrate judge agree upon review by the United States District

Court.

Case 3:06-cv-01832-H-RBB Document 29 Filed 11/29/06 Page 6 of 6