Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00545/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00545-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 17:504 Copyright Infringement

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ODNIL MUSIC LIMITED, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

KATHARSIS, LLC., et al.,

Defendants.

CIV. S-05-0545 WBS PAN

ORDER

—NFN—

June 29, 2005, Judge Shubb stayed this action to allow a

reasonable time for the parties to pursue settlement negotiations

and referred the matter to me for the purpose of conducting an

early settlement conference between the parties. July 1, 2005,

the court clerk gave the parties notice a settlement conference

had been scheduled at 9:00 a.m., August 8, 2005. August 1, 2005,

plaintiffs served its settlement conference statement providing 

defendants with additional notice of the conference. No one

appeared for any defendant at the scheduled time and place.

Case 2:05-cv-00545-WBS-EFB Document 22 Filed 08/29/05 Page 1 of 3
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August 9, I made an order requiring defendants appear before me

on August 24 to show cause why monetary or other sanctions should

not be imposed for their failure to appear at the settlement

conference. That order also was duly served but no one appeared

for defendants.

This court has inherent power to fashion an appropriate

sanction for conduct that abuses the judicial process. Chambers

v. Nasco, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 45-46 (1991).

Plaintiffs appeared for the August 8 settlement

conference by counsel and two representatives. Plaintiffs’ 

counsel’s hourly rate is $225 and counsel spent 1.75 hours

traveling to court, waiting for an appearance by defendants until

excused by the court, and returning to his office. Local Rule of

Court 16-270 required counsel be accompanied by one or more

persons authorized to settle the case on any terms. One of

plaintiffs’ principals traveled from the east coast to attend the

conference, necessarily devoted 36 hours to the matter and

incurred expenses including $802 air travel, $97 hotel, $42 car

rental and $20 for meals. Another representative for plaintiffs 

left San Francisco at 5:45 a.m. to attend the 9:00 conference

(and afterward remained in Sacramento on other business,

returning to San Francisco later in the day). The fair hourly

recompense for these representatives is $50. The total expense

incurred by plaintiffs to attend the settlement conference was

$3,342.25. It is appropriate that this needless expense be

transferred to defendants.

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Accordingly, within 10 days after service of this order,

defendants shall pay to plaintiffs the sum $3,342.25.

Dated: August 29, 2005. 

 /s/ Peter A. Nowinski 

 PETER A. NOWINSKI

 Magistrate Judge

Case 2:05-cv-00545-WBS-EFB Document 22 Filed 08/29/05 Page 3 of 3