Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-02646/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-02646-10/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:9607 Real Property Tort to Land

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES H. LEWIS, et al.,

Plaintiff, CIV-S-03-2646 WBS KJM (GGH)

vs.

ROBERT D. RUSSELL, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

AND RELATED COUNTER, CROSS

AND THIRD PARTY CLAIMS.

_______________________________/

All parties met on November 30, 2007, before the undersigned in status/settlement

conference in the above captioned case. The purpose of the conference was to determine if and

how the settlement process could continue in light of monies needed to further fund the process,

and the present absence of certain parties “participating” in the process. The nonparty Regional

Water Board representative also discussed the status of administrative enforcement, the status of

cleanup order amendment to bring in new parties, and the likelihood of enforcement if the

settlement process did not make further progress in the near future. At the end of the conference,

the following was ordered of all parties who do not have a current bankruptcy stay in place:

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Case 2:03-cv-02646-WBS-AC Document 208 Filed 11/30/07 Page 1 of 3
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 670 Chorro St., Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA, 805-544-4980, 805-547-9302(fax), e- 1

mail: craighunterlaw@sbcglobal.net.

 While further pro rata funding will be prospective only, the final apportionment 2

envisioned by the settlement process order will be based on the entirety of the case, i.e., past and

future expenditures.

 The purpose of the prior discussion among all parties, and the giving of a firm oral 3

position to Mr. Hunter, is to inform the parties of the willingness of each party to participate in

the settlement process before the time it becomes necessary to inform the court of a party’s

position. A party may well want to know what another party(s) is going to do before making

known its final assessment to the court. Mr. Hunter can serve as a clearinghouse for the prior

discussions if the parties and Mr. Hunter desire. In any event, the firm, oral position shall be

disclosed to Mr. Hunter one week before the filing of the court statement. While the undersigned

will not foreclose a change in position from the time of oral statement to the filing of the written

statement, any change shall only be for good cause. Gamesmanship will not be tolerated as the

final written position of other parties may well be determined by the nature of the oral

commitment.

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1. No later than January 8, 2008, the parties shall telephonically or in person

relate to attorney S. Craig Hunter (Lewis attorney) their firm position concerning pro rata 1

monetary participation (commencing as of that date) in the settlement process pursuant to the

settlement process order; the parties are encouraged to contact each other informally prior to that

date with discussions concerning this topic as necessary in order to formulate the firm position;2

2. On January 15, 2008 the participating parties shall file and serve (if service is

not to be performed electronically) a joint statement regarding their desire to continue the

settlement process as participating parties; within that joint statement the parties may breakout

their positions as necessary;

3. On January 15, 2008, the parties who are not presently participating, and who

do not have a bankruptcy stay in place, shall file and serve a statement regarding their desire to

join as participating parties pursuant to the terms of the settlement process order;3

4. In their statements, the parties shall identify any possibly available insurance

coverage and the status of insurance coverage;

5. Mr. Hunter shall include within the joint statement of the participating parties,

the status of any party for whom a bankruptcy stay is in place.

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After review of the statements, the undersigned will determine whether to inform

Judge Shubb that the settlement process should be dissolved and full litigation resumed, whether

to issue an order continuing the settlement process without further discussion, whether to require

an expeditious supplemental statement, or whether another hearing is necessary on this subject. 

The undersigned will act expeditiously as time is of the essence.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 11/30/07

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

____________________________________

 GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:gh:035

lewis2646.ord3

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