Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01402/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01402-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1051 Trademark Infringement

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07cv1402-LAB (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SYMANTEC CORPORATION, a

Washington corporation,

Plaintiff,

v.

GLOBE 2000 CORP., a California

corporation; NGA PHAN, an

individual, and DOES 1-10,

inclusive,

Defendants. 

 

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Case No. 07cv1402-LAB (BLM)

NOTICE AND ORDER SETTING EARLY

NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE

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

case will be held on October 17, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in the chambers of

the Honorable Barbara L. Major, United States Magistrate Judge, located

at 940 Front Street, Suite 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

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

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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

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

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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 three (3)

court days 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

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

2 The parties shall not append attachments or exhibits to the ENE statement.

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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 ten (10) pages2 in length directly to the

chambers of the Honorable Barbara L. Major. These confidential

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

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

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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.

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. Requests to Continue an ENE Conference: Local Rule 16.1(c)

requires that an ENE take place within forty-five (45) 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: September 14, 2007

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

COPY TO:

HONORABLE LARRY A. BURNS

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

ALL COUNSEL

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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.

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