Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04771/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04771-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE

COUNCIL, INC., ET AL.,

Plaintiff(s),

v.

CARLOS GUTIERREZ, ET AL.,

Defendant(s).

___________________________________/

No. C-07-04771 EDL (JCS)

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE AND SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE ORDER

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

The above matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero for settlement purposes. 

You are hereby notified that a settlement conference is scheduled for March 26, 2008, at

9:30 a.m., in Courtroom A, 15th Floor, Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco,

California 94102.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1. The parties are to exchange lists of proposed settlement conference attendees,

including scientists, by fax, not later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on March 1, 2008. The

lists shall also be faxed to Magistrate Judge Spero’s chambers at 415-522-3636.

2. The parties are to exchange settlement proposals, by fax, not later than 5:00 p.m.

(PDT) on March 5, 2008. The proposals shall also be faxed to Magistrate Judge

Spero’s chambers.

3. The parties are to exchange responses to the above settlement proposals, by fax,

not later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on March 14, 2008. The responses shall also be faxed

to Magistrate Judge Spero’s chambers.

Case 3:07-cv-04771-EDL Document 99 Filed 02/15/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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It is the responsibility of counsel to ensure that whatever discovery is needed for all sides to

evaluate the case for settlement purposes is completed by the date of the settlement conference. 

Counsel shall cooperate in providing discovery informally and expeditiously.

Lead trial counsel shall appear at the settlement conference with the parties. Any party who

is not a natural person shall be represented by the person or persons not directly involved in the

events which gave rise to the litigation but with full authority to negotiate a settlement. A person

who needs to call another person not present before agreeing to any settlement does not have full

authority. If a party is a governmental entity, its governing body shall designate one of its members

or a senior executive to appear at the settlement conference with authority to participate in the

settlement conference and, if a tentative settlement agreement is reached, to recommend the

agreement to the governmental entity for its approval. An insured party shall appear with a

representative of the carrier with full authority to negotiate up to the limits of coverage. Personal

attendance of a party representative will rarely be excused by the Court, and then only upon separate

written application demonstrating substantial hardship served on opposing counsel and lodged as

early as the basis for the hardship is known but not later than the settlement conference statement.

Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference Statement, which must be LODGED

with the undersigned's Chambers (NOT electronically filed) no later than March 19, 2008. 

Please 3-hole punch the document at the left side. 

The Settlement Conference Statement need not be served on opposing counsel. The parties

are encouraged, however, to exchange Settlement Conference Statements. If Settlement Conference

Statements are exchanged, any party may submit an additional confidential settlement letter to the

Court. The contents of this confidential settlement letter will not be disclosed to the other parties.

The Settlement Conference Statement shall include the following:

1. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

2. A brief statement of the claims and defenses including, but not limited to, statutory or

other grounds upon which the claims are founded, and a candid evaluation of the parties' likelihood

of prevailing on the claims and defenses. The more candid the parties are, the more productive the

conference will be.

Case 3:07-cv-04771-EDL Document 99 Filed 02/15/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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3. A list of the key facts in dispute and a brief statement of the specific evidence

relevant to a determination of those facts.

4. A summary of the proceedings to date and any pending motions.

5. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial and

trial.

6. The relief sought, including an itemization of damages.

7. The party's position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history

of past settlement discussions. The Court's time can best be used to assist the parties in completing

their negotiations, not in starting them.

The parties shall notify chambers immediately at (415) 522-3691 if this case settles prior to

the date set for settlement conference. Counsel shall provide a copy of this order to each party who

will participate in the conference.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 15, 2008

___________________________ JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:07-cv-04771-EDL Document 99 Filed 02/15/08 Page 3 of 3