Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02066/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02066-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 12:635 Breach of Insurance Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE 

COMPANY OF ILLINOIS, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

VFORCE, INC., et al.,

Defendant. 

Case No. 2:18-cv-02066-DAD-CKD 

ORDER (1) SETTING FURTHER 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE, 

(2) REQUIRING PERSONAL ATTENDANCE 

BY CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, (3) 

REQUIRING UPDATED SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE STATEMENT MEETING 

CERTAIN PARAMETERS, AND (4) 

SCHEDULING PRE-CONFERENCE 

DISCUSSION 

Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson will hold a further settlement conference in 

courtroom 9, 13th floor on October 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The court expects that the parties will 

proceed with the further settlement conference in good faith and attempt to resolve all or part of 

the case. If any party believes that the further settlement conference will not be productive, that 

party shall so inform the court as far in advance of the further settlement conference as possible. 

Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the court in advance of the further settlement 

conference, the following individuals must participate in the further settlement conference: (1) all 

of the attorney(s) who will try the case; (2) the parties; and (3) individuals with full authority to 

negotiate and settle the case, on any terms. 

 No later than October 16, 2023, each party must submit to Judge Peterson’s chambers at 

jdporders@caed.uscourts.gov an updated confidential settlement conference statement. These 

Case 2:18-cv-02066-DAD-CKD Document 157 Filed 09/07/23 Page 1 of 4
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statements should neither be filed on the docket nor served on any other party. The statements 

should be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and should state the date and time of the conference. 

While brevity is appreciated, each statement must include: 

(1) a brief recitation of the facts; 

(2) a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the case, from your party’s 

perspective; 

(3) an itemized estimate of your party’s expected costs for further discovery, pretrial, and 

trial matters, in specific dollar terms; 

(4) your best estimate of the probability that plaintiff will obtain a finding of liability 

should this case proceed to trial, in percentage terms; 

(5) should this case proceed to trial and defendant be found liable, please provide the 

following, in specific dollar terms: 

 (a) a realistic high-end recovery estimate (i.e., realistic best- or worst-case 

scenario) 

 (b) a realistic low-end recovery estimate (i.e., realistic worst- or best-case 

scenario), and 

 (c) a best estimate of the most likely outcome; 

(6) a history of settlement discussions, including: 

(a) a statement of your expectations for settlement discussions; 

(b) a listing of any past and present settlement offers from any party (including all 

terms); 

(c) whether your party would consider making the opening offer or demand, and 

what that offer might be1

; 

(7) a list of the individuals who will be participating in the settlement conference on your 

party’s behalf, including each participant’s name and, if appropriate, title; 

(8) identification of any related cases or of any other cases that the parties might wish to 

1

 Please note that Judge Peterson will consider this response, among others, in evaluating 

whether proceeding with a settlement conference appears worthwhile. 

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discuss at this settlement conference; and 

(9) a completed worksheet (blank version attached) highlighting your responses to certain 

of the above questions.

In addition, a joint statement quoting the specific proposed language for the Settlement 

Agreement and Affidavit including each party’s contentions with respect thereto. 

Judge Peterson will hold a short, pre-settlement conference telephone discussion on 

October 24, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. (dial-in number: 1-888-557-8511; passcode: 1273468). Only the 

lead attorney from each side2

 should participate. At Judge Peterson’s discretion, the joint 

telephonic discussion may be followed by private telephonic discussions between the judge and 

each party. 

In accordance with the above, it is hereby ORDERED that: 

1. A pre-settlement conference is set before Magistrate Judge Peterson on October 24, 

2023 at 2:30 p.m. 

2. A further settlement conference is set before Magistrate Judge Peterson on October 30, 

2023, at 10:00 a.m. 

3. No later than October 16, 2023, each party must submit an updated confidential 

settlement conference statement, as described above, to Magistrate Judge Peterson. 

Dated: September 6, 2023 

2

 The court expects that the attorneys participating in the telephone discussion will also 

participate in the settlement conference. 

Case 2:18-cv-02066-DAD-CKD Document 157 Filed 09/07/23 Page 3 of 4
 

Pre-Settlement Worksheet 

Please fill in each value below 

Additional cost to your party expected 

for . . . discovery $ 

 . . . pretrial $ 

 . . . trial $ 

Estimated probability of liability 

finding

 

% 

Realistic high-end estimate of recovery 

by P $ 

Realistic low-end estimate of recovery 

by P $ 

Best estimate of recovery by P $ 

Last offer/demand (if any) previously 

made by your party

$ 

Last offer/demand (if any) previously 

made by opposing party

$ 

Proposed next offer/demand by your 

party

$ 

Case 2:18-cv-02066-DAD-CKD Document 157 Filed 09/07/23 Page 4 of 4