Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01786/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01786-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 480
Nature of Suit: Consumer Credit
Cause of Action: 15:1681 Fair Credit Reporting Act

---

1 

17-CV-1786-JM(WVG) 

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

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

RONALD V. CASAS, 

Plaintiff,

v. 

EXPERIAN INFORMATION 

SOLUTIONS, INC., 

Defendants.

 Case No.: 17-CV-1786-JM(WVG) 

AMENDED NOTICE AND ORDER 

FOR EARLY NEUTRAL 

EVALUATION CONFERENCE AND 

CASE MANAGEMENT 

CONFERENCE 

The joint motion to continue the Early Neutral Evaluation is GRANTED. (Doc. No. 

12.) The October 16, 2017 Order (Doc. No. 11) is accordingly VACATED. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation (“ENE”) of your case 

and Case Management Conference (“CMC”) will be held on January 5, 2018, at 2:00 

p.m., before United States Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo, United States Courthouse, 

Courtroom 2A, Second Floor, 221 West Broadway, San Diego, California. 

/ / / 

/ / / 

/ / / 

Case 3:17-cv-01786-JM-WVG Document 13 Filed 10/23/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 5
2 

17-CV-1786-JM(WVG) 

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

Additionally, on December 13, 2017, beginning at 9:00 a.m., the Court will hold 

an attorneys-only telephonic status conference with each party separately.1

 The purpose 

of this confidential, off-the-record teleconference is for the Court’s benefit in assessing 

each party’s concerns, challenges, and whether the Court can assist in alleviating these. 

On or before December 8, 2017, each attorney intending to participate shall lodge, via 

electronic mail addressed to efile_Gallo@casd.uscourts.gov, (1) the name of each attorney 

who will participate and (2) a telephone number at which each attorney may be reached 

directly without fail at the time of the conference. 

I. EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE 

The following are mandatory guidelines for the parties preparing for the ENE 

Conference. 

1. Purpose of Conference

The purpose of the ENE is to permit an informal discussion between the attorneys, 

parties and the settlement judge of every aspect of the lawsuit in an effort to achieve an 

early resolution of the case. All conference discussions will be informal, off the record, 

privileged and confidential. Counsel for non-English speaking parties is responsible for 

arranging for the appearance of an interpreter at the conference. 

2. 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, and the principal 

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

prepared to discuss settlement of the case. See S.D. Cal. Civ. L. R. 16.1(c). 

                                               

1

 The Court will contact the first party and proceed to contact the remaining parties one at 

a time. Each call may be short or lengthy. Counsel are required to be available for the 

Court’s call beginning at the appointed time and remain available until they are called. 

Case 3:17-cv-01786-JM-WVG Document 13 Filed 10/23/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 5
3 

17-CV-1786-JM(WVG) 

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

3. Full Settlement Authority Required

In addition to counsel who will try the case, a party or party representative with full 

settlement authority2 must be present for the conference. In the case 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 damage 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. 

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 one week before the conference. Failure to appear at the ENE conference will be 

grounds for sanctions. 

4. Settlement Proposal and Response Required 

No later than November 16, 2017, Plaintiff shall submit to Defendants a written 

settlement proposal. No later than November 22, 2017, Defendants shall submit a 

response to Plaintiff’s settlement proposal. All parties shall be prepared to address in their 

ENE Statements, and discuss at the ENE conference, the settlement proposal and response. 

                                               

2

 “Full authority to settle” means that the individuals at the settlement conference must 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 (7th Cir. 1989). The person needs to have “unfettered discretion and authority” to 

change the settlement position of a party. Pitman v. Brinker Intl., 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 includes 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. The person with full settlement authority must be able to negotiate a 

settlement without being restricted by any predetermined level of authority. Nick v. 

Morgan’s Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590 (8th Cir. 2001). 

Case 3:17-cv-01786-JM-WVG Document 13 Filed 10/23/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 3 of 5
4 

17-CV-1786-JM(WVG) 

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

5. ENE Statements Required

In accordance with the Court’s Chambers Rules, each party shall exchange its 

settlement Statement with all opposing parties. Additionally, in accordance with the 

Court’s Chambers Rules, each party shall submit a confidential or non-confidential 

Statement to the Court. Both the exchange of Statements between the parties and 

submissions of Statements to the Court shall occur on or before December 4, 2017. 

The Statement each party submits directly to the chambers shall be five pages or less and 

shall outline the nature of the case, the claims, the defenses, and the parties’ positions 

regarding settlement of, and attempts to settle the case. All Statements must comply with 

the Court’s Chambers Rules.

The parties shall meet and confer in good faith prior to the ENE Conference, and 

verify that they have done so in their respective ENE Conference statements, outlining the 

substance of their discussions and negotiations. 

6. Time Allotted 

The Court generally allots two hours for ENEs. Counsel should be prepared to be 

succinct and to the point. Requests for additional time must be made in writing in the 

party’s ENE statement, accompanied by a short explanation. 

7. New Parties Must Be Notified by Plaintiff’s Counsel 

Plaintiff’s counsel shall give notice of the ENE Conference to all parties responding 

to the Complaint after the date of this Notice. 

8. Requests to Continue an ENE Conference

Civil Local Rule 16.1(c) requires that an ENE take place within 45 days of the filing 

of the first answer. Requests to continue ENE conferences are rarely granted. Counsel 

seeking to reschedule an ENE must first confer with opposing counsel. The Court will 

consider formal, written ex parte requests to continue an ENE conference when 

extraordinary circumstances exist that make a continuance appropriate. In and of itself, 

having to travel a long distance to appear at the ENE conference is not an extraordinary 

circumstance. Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for continuances of the 

Case 3:17-cv-01786-JM-WVG Document 13 Filed 10/23/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 4 of 5
5 

17-CV-1786-JM(WVG) 

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

ENE conference may not be considered unless submitted in writing no less than seven 

calendar days prior to the scheduled conference.

Please refer to the undersigned’s Chambers Rules for additional guidance regarding 

the areas which must be addressed in the request. 

The parties shall be prepared to engage in good faith settlement discussions with the 

Court and opposing parties during the ENE Conference. Failure to engage in good faith 

settlement discussions may result in the imposition of sanctions. 

II. CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 

Given the delay in convening the ENE Conference, the parties shall also be prepared 

for a Case Management Conference on January 5, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.. Accordingly, the 

Court issues the following orders: 

1. The Rule 26(f) conference shall be completed before November 14, 2017; 

2. The date of initial disclosure pursuant to Rule 26(a)(1)(A)-(D) shall occur before 

November 22, 2017; and 

3. A joint discovery plan shall be lodged with Magistrate Judge Gallo on or before 

December 4, 2017.

3

Questions regarding this case may be directed to the undersigned’s Research 

Attorney at (619) 557-6384. Please consult the undersigned’s Chambers Rules, which are 

available on the Court’s website, before contacting chambers with any questions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 23, 2017 

                                              

3

 Counsel are invited to review the undersigned’s Chambers Rules for guidance on 

completing the proposed discovery plan. Counsel are further advised to consult the 

Chambers Rules of the District Judge assigned to this case for case timeline preferences, if 

any. 

Case 3:17-cv-01786-JM-WVG Document 13 Filed 10/23/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 5 of 5