Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01248/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01248-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 47:0227(b)(3) Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991

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AUG 15 2016 

CLERK, U.s, DISTR!CT (:OURT 

SOUTHERl\ LiiSTRiCT OF Ct-u;::or:,N!/l 

,R~~~ ____ . _____ . ____ ~~,e~L~~ ," 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

PETERGANN, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

PROGRESSIVE MANAGEMENT 

SYSTEMS, INC., 

Defendant. 

Case No.: 16cv1248 JLS (KSC) 

NOTICE AND ORDER SETTING 

EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION 

CONFERENCE 

IT IS ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation of your case will be held on 

19 September 12,2016 at 2:30 in the Chambers of Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford, 

20 United States District Court, 333 West Broadway, Suite 1010, San Diego, California 

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92101. The following are mandatory guidelines for the parties preparing for the Early 

Neutral Evaluation Conference. '22 

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1. Purpose of Conference: The purpose of the Early Neutral Evaluation 

Conference ("ENE") is to permit an informal discussion between the attorneys, parties, and 

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the settlement judge of every aspect of the lawsuit in an effort to achieve an early resolution 

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of the case. All conference discussions will be informal, off the record, privileged and 

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confidential. Counsel for any non-English speaking parties is responsible for arranging for 

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28 the appearance of an interpreter at the conference. 

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2. Personal Appearance of Parties Is Required: All parties, adjusters for 

insured defendants, and other representatives of a party having full and complete authority 

to enter into a binding settlement, and the principal attomeys responsible for the litigation, 

must be present in person and legally and factually prepared to discuss settlement of the 

case. Full authority to settle means that the individuals at the ENE be authorized to fully 

explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement terms acceptable to 

the parties. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. 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'/, Inc., 216 F.RD. 481,485-486 (D. 

Ariz. 2003). One ofthe purposes of requiring a person with unlimited settlement authority 

to attend the conference is that the person's view of the case may be altered during the 

face-to-face conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. at 486. Limited or sum certain authority is 

not adequate. Nick v. Morgan's Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 595-597 (8th Cir. 2001). 

Counsel appearing without their clients (whether or not counsel has been given 

settlement authority) will be cause for immediate imposition of sanctions and will also 

result in the immediate termination of the conference. 

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

18 case, a party or party representative with full settlement authority must be present for the 

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

20 corporation who is not retained outside counsel must be present and must have 

21 discretionary authority to commit the company to pay an amount up to the amount of the 

22 plaintiff sprayer (excluding punitive damage prayers). The purpose of this requirement is 

23 to have representatives present who can settle the case during the course of the conference 

24 without consulting a superior. Counsel for a government entity may be excused from this 

25 requirement so long as the government attorney who attends the ENE conference (1) has 

26 primary responsibility for handling the case; and (2) may negotiate settlement offers which 

27 the attorney is willing to recommend to the government official having ultimate settlement 

28 authority. 

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16cv1248 JLS (KSC) 

Case 3:16-cv-01248-JLS-KSC Document 6 Filed 08/15/16 Page 2 of 5
1 4. Confidential ENE Statements Required: No later than seven (7) days 

2 before the ENE, the parties shall submit confidential statements of five pages or less 

3 directly to the chambers of Magistrate Judge Crawford outlining the nature of the case, the 

4 claims, and the defenses. These statements shall not be filed or served on opposing 

5 counsel. They can be lodged via email at efile _ crawford@casd.uscourts.gov. If exhibits 

6 are attached and the total submission amounts to more than 20 pages, a hard copy must be 

7 delivered directly to chambers. 

8 5. New Parties Must Be Notified by Plaintiffs Counsel: Plaintiffs counsel 

9 shall give notice of the ENE to parties responding to the complaint after the date of this 

10 notice. 

11 6. Case Management Under the Amended Federal Rules: In the event the 

12 case does not settle at the ENE, the parties can expect to leave the ENE with Rule 26 

13 compliance dates or deadlines. Parties shall therefore be prepared to discuss the following 

14 matters at the conclusion of the ENE conference: 

15 a. Any anticipated objections under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

16 26(a)(1)(E) to the initial disclosure provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

'17 26(a)(1)(A-D); 

18 b. The scheduling ofthe Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(t) conference 

19 within 24 days following the ENE: 

20 c. The date of initial disclosure and the date for lodging the discovery plan 

21 within 14 days following the Rule 26(t) conference; and, 

22 d. The scheduling of a Case Management Conference pursuant to Federal 

23 Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b) within 21 days following the Rule 26( t) conference. 

24 The Court will issue an order following the ENE addressing these issues and setting 

25 dates as appropriate. 

26 7. Requests to Continue an ENE Conference: Local Rule 16.1 (c) requires that 

27 an ENE take place within 45 days of the filing of the first answer. Requests to continue 

.28 ENEs are rarely granted. However, the Court will consider formal, written ex parte or joint 

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16cv1248 JLS (KSC) 

Case 3:16-cv-01248-JLS-KSC Document 6 Filed 08/15/16 Page 3 of 5
1 requests to continue an ENE conference when extraordinary circumstances exist that make 

2 a continuance appropriate. In and of itself, having to travel a long distance to appear in 

3 person is not "extraordinary." Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for 

4 continuances will not be considered unless submitted in writing no less than seven (7) 

5 days prior to the scheduled conference. 

6 Questions regarding this case or the mandatory guidelines set forth herein may be 

7 directed to the Magistrate Judge's law clerks at (619) 446-3964. 

8 A Notice of Right to Consent to Trial Before a United States Magistrate Judge is 

9 attached for your information. 

10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

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Dated: August 12,2016 

United Sta es Magistrate Judge 

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NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONSENT TO TRIAL 

BEFORE A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

4 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 28 U.S.C. § 636( c), YOU ARE 

5 HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THIS DISTRICT MAY, 

6 UPON THE CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, ON FORM lA AVAILABLE IN THE 

7 CLERK'S OFFICE, CONDUCT ANY OR ALL PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING A JURy 

8 OR NON-JURY TRIAL, AND ORDER THE ENTRY OF A FINAL JUDGMENT. 

9 COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE 

10 CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, SHOULD THEY DESIRE TO CONSENT. 

11 YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOUR DECISION TO CONSENT OR NOT 

12 TO CONSENT IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY. ONLY IF ALL PARTIES CONSENT 

13 WILL THE JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE JUDGE TO WHOM THE CASE HAS BEEN 

14 ASSIGNED BE INFORMED OF YOUR DECISION. 

15 JUDGMENTS OF THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGES ARE APPEALABLE TO 

16 THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND 

17 THE FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE. 

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