Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07336/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07336-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 35:271 Patent Infringement

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SPEEDTRACK, INC., No. C-06-07336 PJH (JCS)

Plaintiff(s),

v. NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE AND SETTLEMENT

 WAL-MART STORES, INC. ET AL., CONFERENCE ORDER

Defendant(s). (E-FILING CASE)

___________________________________/

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

The above matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero for settlement purposes. 

You are hereby notified that a Settlement Conference is scheduled for May 21, 2007, at

9:30 a.m., in Courtroom A, 15th Floor, Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco,

California 94102.

No later than March 30, 2007, counsel shall provide to the Court in writing the names

of those individuals with complete and unlimited settlement authority who will meet and

confer in person on or before April 30, 2007, to discuss settlement. The principals who attend

the settlement meeting shall also attend the Settlement Conference. Counsel may also attend the

meeting of the principals. Two weeks before the meeting, Plaintiff(s) shall make a settlement

proposal, in writing, with a copy to the undersigned. One week before the meeting, Defendant(s)

shall respond and make a counter-proposal, in writing, with a copy to the undersigned.

It is the responsibility of counsel to ensure that whatever discovery is needed for all sides to

evaluate the case for settlement purposes is completed by the date of the Settlement Conference. 

Counsel shall cooperate in providing discovery informally and expeditiously.

Case 4:06-cv-07336-PJH Document 56 Filed 03/21/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Lead trial counsel shall appear at the Settlement Conference with the parties. Any party who

is not a natural person shall be represented by the person(s) with unlimited authority to negotiate a

settlement. A person who needs to call another person not present before agreeing to any settlement

does not have unlimited authority. If a party is a governmental entity, its governing body shall

designate one of its members or a senior executive to appear at the Settlement Conference with

authority to participate in the Settlement Conference and, if a tentative settlement agreement is

reached, to recommend the agreement to the governmental entity for its approval. An insured party

shall appear with a representative of the carrier with full authority to negotiate up to the limits of

coverage. Personal attendance of a party representative will rarely be excused by the Court, and

then only upon separate written application demonstrating substantial hardship served on opposing

counsel and lodged as early as the basis for the hardship is known but no later than the Settlement

Conference Statement.

Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference Statement, which must be LODGED with

the undersigned's Chambers no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the conference. The

Settlement Conference Statement should not be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Court, and

need not be served on opposing counsel. The parties are encouraged, however, to exchange

Settlement Conference Statements. If Settlement Conference Statements are exchanged, any party

may submit an additional confidential settlement letter to the Court not to exceed three (3) pages. 

The contents of this confidential settlement letter will not be disclosed to the other parties.

The Settlement Conference Statement shall include the following:

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

2. A brief statement of the claims and defenses including, but not limited to, statutory or

other grounds upon which the claims are founded, and a candid evaluation of the parties' likelihood

of prevailing on the claims and defenses. The more candid the parties are, the more productive the

conference will be.

3. A list of the key facts in dispute and a brief statement of the specific evidence

relevant to a determination of those facts.

4. A summary of the proceedings to date and any pending motions.

Case 4:06-cv-07336-PJH Document 56 Filed 03/21/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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5. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial and trial.

6. The relief sought, including an itemization of damages.

7. The party's position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history

of past settlement discussions. The Court's time can best be used to assist the parties in completing

their negotiations, not in starting them. The parties are urged to carefully evaluate their case before

taking a settlement position since extreme positions hinder the settlement process.

Settlement Conference Statements may be submitted on CD-ROM with hypertext links to

exhibits. Otherwise, the portion of exhibits on which the party relies shall be highlighted.

It is not unusual for the conference to last three (3) or more hours. Parties are encouraged to

participate and frankly discuss their case. Statements they make during the conference will not be

admissible at trial in the event the case does not settle. The parties should be prepared to discuss

such issues as:

1. Their settlement objectives.

2. Any impediments to settlement they perceive.

3. Whether they have enough information to discuss settlement. If not, what additional

information is needed.

4. The possibility of a creative resolution of the dispute.

The parties shall notify Chambers immediately at (415) 522-3691 if this case settles prior to

the date set for Settlement Conference. Counsel shall provide a copy of this order to each party who

will participate in the conference.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 21, 2007

____________________________ JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:06-cv-07336-PJH Document 56 Filed 03/21/07 Page 3 of 3