Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00462/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00462-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1 Given the short notice, the Court consulted telephonically with counsel for

both parties regarding their availability. Both sides represented to the Court that

this date and time were acceptable. 

07cv0462-JLS (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEANNA MICHELLE MORY, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CITY OF CHULA VISTA, et al.,

Defendants.

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. 07cv0462-JLS (BLM)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE

In light of the status of the pleadings in this case, the Court

finds it appropriate to schedule a settlement conference. Accordingly,

the Settlement Conference shall be conducted on March 10, 2008 at 1:30

p.m. in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major located at 940

Front Street, Suite 5140, San Diego, CA 92101.1 All discussions at the

Settlement Conference will be 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.

Case 3:07-cv-00462-JLS-WVG Document 104 Filed 03/04/08 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2 To the extent counsel made the Court aware during the scheduling of this

conference that certain individuals may not be able to attend but would be available

by telephone, the Court will consider making an exception to this rule. However,

counsel must contact the Court in advance of the conference to confirm who will not be

able to attend and why.

3 “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

2 07cv0462-JLS (BLM)

a. 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,

as well as 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 in person at the

Settlement Conference will be grounds for sanctions.2

b. Full Settlement Authority Required: In addition to counsel

who will try the case, a party or party representative with full

settlement authority3 must be present for the conference. In the case

Case 3:07-cv-00462-JLS-WVG Document 104 Filed 03/04/08 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

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

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

3 07cv0462-JLS (BLM)

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

Settlement 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.

c. Confidential Settlement Statements Required: No later than

March 7, 2008, the parties shall submit directly to Magistrate Judge

Major's chambers confidential settlement statements no more than five

(5) pages in length. These confidential statements shall not be filed

or served on opposing counsel. Each party's confidential statement must

include the following:

(i) A brief description of the case, the claims and/or

counterclaims asserted, and the applicable defenses or position

regarding the asserted claims;

(ii) 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

Case 3:07-cv-00462-JLS-WVG Document 104 Filed 03/04/08 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4 07cv0462-JLS (BLM)

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

(iii) 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.

If the case is settled in its entirety before the scheduled date of

the conference, counsel and any unrepresented parties must still appear

in person, unless a written joint motion confirming the complete

settlement of the case is submitted no fewer than twenty-four (24) hours

before the scheduled conference.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 4, 2008

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

COPY TO:

HONORABLE JANIS L. SAMMARTINO

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

ALL COUNSEL

Case 3:07-cv-00462-JLS-WVG Document 104 Filed 03/04/08 Page 4 of 4