Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02468/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02468-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 340
Nature of Suit: Marine Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 46:30505-30510 Exoneration, Limitation of Liability

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16CV2468 JM-LL 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

In the matter of the Complaint of 

HORNBLOWER FLEET, LLC owner, 

and HORNBLOWER YACHTS, LLC dba 

HORNBLOWER CRUISES AND 

EVENTS, owner pro hac vice for 

exoneration of, or limitation of, liability, 

 Plaintiffs, 

and Related Claims. 

 Case No.: 16CV2468 JM-LL 

ORDER SETTING SECOND 

MANDATORY SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE 

The Court held a Mandatory Settlement Conference (“MSC”) on December 12, 

2018. Based upon the Parties’ request, the Court sets a second Mandatory Settlement 

Conference on January 3, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Linda 

Lopez located at 221 West Broadway, Suite 2140, San Diego, CA 92101. All discussions 

at the Mandatory 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. 

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a. Personal Appearance of Attorneys Required: The principal attorneys 

responsible for the litigation, must be present in person and legally and factually prepared 

to discuss settlement of the case. 

Unless there is good cause, persons required to attend the conference pursuant to this 

Order shall not be excused from personal attendance. Requests for excuse from attendance 

for good cause shall be made in writing at least five (5) court days prior to the conference. 

Failure to appear in person at the Mandatory Settlement Conference will be grounds for 

sanctions 

b. Full Settlement Authority Required: In addition to counsel who will try the 

case, all parties, adjusters for insured defendants, and other representatives of a party with 

full settlement authority1

 must be present in person or available telephonically for the 

entirety of the conference. In the case of a corporate entity, an authorized representative 

of the corporation who is not retained outside counsel must be present in person or 

available telephonically for the entirety of the conference and must have discretionary 

authority to commit the company to pay an amount up to the amount of 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. 

c. Confidential Settlement Statements Required: No later than December 

31, 2019, the parties shall submit directly to Magistrate Judge Lopez's chambers (via email 

address or hand delivery c/o the Clerk’s Office) confidential settlement statements no more 

than two (2) pages in length. These confidential statements shall not be filed or served 

                                               

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 "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 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). 

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on opposing counsel. Each party's confidential statement must set forth any settlement 

negotiations and subsequent offers or demands made by that party since the Court’s first 

Mandatory Settlement Conference, and a separate statement of the offer or demand the 

party is prepared to make at the second Mandatory Settlement Conference. 

d. Requests to Continue a Mandatory Settlement Conference: Any request 

to continue the Mandatory Settlement Conference or request for relief from any of the 

provisions or requirements of this Order must be sought by a written joint motion or ex 

parte application. The application must (1) be supported by a declaration of counsel 

setting forth the reasons and justifications for the relief requested, (2) confirm compliance 

with Civil Local Rule 83.3(h), and (3) report the position of opposing counsel or any 

unrepresented parties subject to the Order. Absent good cause, requests for continuances 

will not be considered unless submitted in writing no fewer than (7) days prior to the 

scheduled conference.

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 notice confirming the complete settlement of the case is filed no fewer than 

twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled conference. 

Dated: December 14, 2018 

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