Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01369/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01369-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 130
Nature of Suit: Miller Act
Cause of Action: 28:1352 Miller Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

for the Use and Benefit of )

H.J. MARTIN & SON, INC., a )

Wisconsin corporation, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. ) 

)

DICK CORPORATION, a )

corporation, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

 )

1:06-cv-01369-OWW-SMS

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE (PER REQUEST

OF THE PARTIES)

Settlement Conference Date: 

3/31/10, 9:30am, Ctrm. 7/SMS

Confidential Settlement

Conference Statements Due:

3/24/10

Unless otherwise permitted in advance by Judge Snyder, the

attorneys who will try the case shall personally appear at the

settlement conference with the parties and the person or persons

having full authority to negotiate and settle the case on any

terms at the settlement conference. 1

//

Insurance carriers, business organizations, and governmental bodies or agencies whose settlement

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agreements are subject to approval by legislative bodies, executive committees, boards of directors, or the

like, shall be represented by a person or persons who occupy high executive positions in the party

organization, and who will be directly involved in the process of approval of any settlement offers or

agreements. To the extent possible, the representative shall have the authority, if he or she deems it

appropriate, to settle the action on terms consistent with the opposing party’s most recent demand.

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In all five (5) remaining and related Miller Act cases,

permission for the surety representatives to attend the settlement

conference by telephone is GRANTED. However, the surety

representative(s) must be immediately available throughout, until

excused, regardless of time zone differences. Otherwise, if

settlement conference negotiations are not meaningful due to the

non-appearance of one or more surety representatives, a follow-up

settlement conference could be ordered, with one or more parties

having to pay the costs thereof. 

A Confidential Settlement Conference Statement is MANDATORY,

and must be submitted to Judge Snyder’s chambers on or before March

24, 2010, by e-mail to SMSOrders@caed.uscourts.gov. However, if

the Statement is too voluminous to e-mail, counsel must instead

provide a copy via U.S. Mail as follows:

Honorable Sandra M. Snyder

United States Magistrate Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

2500 Tulare Street, Suite 1501

Fresno, CA 93721

ATTN: Frances Robles

Failure to so comply may result in the imposition of monetary

and/or other sanctions.

The Statement should not be e-filed, nor filed with the

Clerk’s Office, nor served on any other party, although the parties

may file a “Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement

Conference Statement” pursuant to Local Rule 270(d). Each 2

Statement shall be clearly marked "Confidential" with the date and

The Court does not provide filed conformed copies of Confidential Settlement Conference

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Statements via mail. The Court will simply dispose of any extra copies, as well as return envelopes, provided

by counsel for that purpose.

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time of the Settlement Conference indicated prominently thereon. 

Counsel are urged to request the return of their Statements if

settlement is not achieved and, if such a request is not made, the

Court will dispose of the Statement.

The Confidential Settlement Conference Statement shall include

the following:

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

B. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e.,

statutory or other grounds upon which the claims are founded; a

forthright evaluation of the parties' likelihood of prevailing on

the claims and defenses; and, a description of the major issues in

dispute.

C. A summary of the proceedings to date.

D. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for

further discovery, pretrial, and trial. 

E. The relief sought.

F. The party's position on settlement, including present

demands and offers, and a history of past settlement discussions,

offers, and demands.

If it is clear to counsel and/or the parties that this case is

not in a settlement posture, counsel are DIRECTED to contact Judge

Snyder’s staff immediately. OTHERWISE, Judge Snyder will assume,

and REQUIRES, the following:

1. That plaintiff has provided defendant with a timely

demand;

2. That the parties have met and conferred sufficiently at

least once prior to the Settlement Conference regarding possible

settlement; and,

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3. That the parties are therefore ready, willing, and able

to settle the case, meaning that (A) defendant has settlement (not

just nuisance value) authority, and (B) plaintiff is willing to

negotiate in good faith.

If there is no settlement authority from either or any party

and/or it is the hope of one or more parties that this Court assess

strengths and weaknesses of each parties’ cases such that this

Court will hopefully convince a party to dismiss their lawsuit,

THIS IS NOT SETTLEMENT. In such a situation, the parties are

ordered to coordinate a telephonic conference call with this Court,

through Courtroom Deputy Harriet Herman at (559) 499-5692 OR

Judicial Assistant Frances Robles at (559) 499-5690, prior to the

Settlement Conference, to discuss the status of settlement. 

Failure to do so could result in sanctions against any or all

parties if appearances are made and it was known to one or more

parties that the case cannot settle.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 18, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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