Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00787/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00787-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 28:2201dj Declaratory Judgment

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1 07CV0787 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TDY HOLDINGS, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et

al.,

Defendants.

 

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Civil No. 07-0787-JAH(WVG)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS’

APPLICATION FOR REQUIRED

APPEARANCE AT SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE

The Court is in receipt of the letter dated January 6, 2010,

sent by Plaintiffs TDY Holdings, LLC and TDY Industries, Inc.

(hereafter “TDY”), in which TDY requests that the Court order

Defendant United States of America, et al., (hereafter “USA”) to

have a “senior Justice Department official” personally attend the

Settlement Conference scheduled for February 19, 2010. The Court is

also in receipt of the USA’s responsive letter, dated January 11,

2010. For reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES the request.

The Court is aware of the history of the litigation in this

case as well as the issues presented in TDY’s and the USA’s letters.

While it is true that Magistrate Judge Louisa S. Porter, previously

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assigned to this case, ordered the USA “to have present an individual, other than defense counsel, who is familiar with the facts and

circumstances of this case, the history of the site in question, its

use, and remediation efforts – historically, presently, and

remediation plans for the future,” it is not accurate nor correct to

represent that Magistrate Judge Porter intended a senior Justice

Department official to be that person. As explained in the letter

from then-United States Attorney Alan D. Bersin to then-Presiding

Magistrate Judge Roger C. McKee, dated July 18, 1996, (attached to

the USA’s letter), the requirement to compel the appearance of a

senior Department of Justice official is onerous, burdensome, mostly

impractical, and not supported by Congressional pronouncements.

Although Mr. Bersin’s letter is nearly 14 years old, his position

continues to be the policy practiced in this judicial district.

There is no evidence to suggest that the USA is not negotiating in good faith. Representations otherwise are unnecessary,

counter-productive, and without basis in fact.

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that TDY’s request for a senior

Department of Justice official to attend the Settlement Conference

is DENIED.

It is FURTHER ORDERED, consistent with Magistrate Judge

Porter’s Orders of October 8 and 21, 2009, that counsel for the USA

shall be accompanied at the Settlement Conference by an individual

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with intimate knowledge of the site in question. This person need

not be a senior Justice Department official. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 13, 2010

 Hon. William V. Gallo

 U.S. Magistrate Judge

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