Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01643/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01643-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: Americans with Disabilities Act

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cal kmw 

1 06cv1643

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

2150 SIGOURNEY JOSSIAH FRANCIS

LEE ASSOCIATION, SUING ON BEHALF

OF THEODORE A. PINNOCK AND ITS

MEMBERS; and THEODORE A.

PINNOCK, an individual,

Plaintiff,

v.

PACIFIC BAY COLLISION CENTER, INC.,

d.b.a. LIKE NU AUTO BODY; THE GLEN

VOLK LIVING TRUST; and DOES 1

through 10, inclusive,

Defendants. 

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Civil No.06cv1643 LAB(AJB)

NOTICE OF AND ORDER SETTING

EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION

CONFERENCE; ORDERING THE

PARTIES TO MEET AND CONFER; AND

ORDERING THE FILING OF A JOINT

STATEMENT OF THE PARTIES

 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation of the above entitled action will be

held on October 31, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in the chambers of Judge Anthony J. Battaglia, US Courts Building,

940 Front St., Room 1145, San Diego, California. Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for

continuances will not be considered unless submitted in writing no less than fourteen days prior to the

scheduled conference.

Mandatory Pre-Conference Requirements

Plaintiff's counsel shall serve a copy of this Notice and Order on all defendants making an

appearance after the date of this notice.

Case 3:06-cv-01643-LAB-AJB Document 4 Filed 09/18/06 Page 1 of 4
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2 06cv1643

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

Based upon the Court's familiarity with these matters and in the interest of promoting the just,

efficient and economical determination of this action, the Court issues the following orders at this time:

1. All formal discovery shall be stayed in this case until the completion of the Early Neutral

Evaluation Conference set herein;

2. On or before October 3, 2006, Plaintiff's counsel shall lodge with Judge Battaglia's chambers

and serve on opposing counsel a statement, not in excess of two pages, including:

a. An itemized list of the specific issues on the subject premises which are the basis of

the claimed violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act;

b. A statement of the amount and category of damages claimed by Plaintiff in this

action;

c. The amount claimed for attorney's fees and costs; and,

d. The Plaintiff's demand for settlement of the case in its entirety.

3. After service of Plaintiff's statement and no later than October 17, 2006, counsel for the

parties, and any unrepresented parties, shall meet and confer in person at the subject premises regarding

settlement of (1) the alleged premise violations, and (2) damages, costs and attorney fee claims. All counsel

appearing in the case shall be responsible to make the arrangements for the conference. The meet and

confer obligation cannot be satisfied by telephone or the exchange of letters. No later than

October 24, 2006, counsel shall lodge with Judge Battaglia's chambers a joint statement certifying that the

required in-person conference between counsel has taken place and advising the Court of the status of

settlement negotiations and setting forth all issues in dispute, including property issues, Plaintiff's alleged

damages, and the claim for attorney's fees and costs, along with a description of any settlement demands

and/or offers exchanged.

4. Plaintiff's counsel shall be prepared to present documentation to the Court, at the Early

Neutral Evaluation Conference, to support the amount of attorney's fees and costs claimed for in camera

review.

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Case 3:06-cv-01643-LAB-AJB Document 4 Filed 09/18/06 Page 2 of 4
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1

 “Full authority to settle” means that the individuals at the settlement conference 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 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 includes that the persons view of the case may be

altered during the face to face conference. Pitman at 486. A limited or a sum certain of authority is not

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

3 06cv1643

Request for Continuance or to Vacate ENE date

Absent extraordinary circumstances, a request to continue the ENE will not be considered

unless submitted in writing no less than fourteen days prior to the scheduled conference.

Any request to continue the conference or request for relief from any of the provisions or

requirements of this Order must be sought by a written ex parte application. The application must be

supported by a declaration of counsel setting forth the reasons and justifications for the relief requested;

confirm compliance with Civil Local Rule 26.1; and, report the position of opposing counsel or any

unrepresented parties subject to the Order. 

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 stipulation confirming the complete

settlement of the case is submitted no less than 24 hours before the scheduled conference.

Mandatory Appearance Requirements

Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 16.1(c) of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the

Southern District of California, all counsel and each party, in addition to any other person(s) who has

full and unlimited authority1 to negotiate and enter into a binding settlement shall appear in person

at the conference and shall be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages. Governmental

entities may appear through litigation counsel only. As to all other parties, appearance by litigation

counsel only is not acceptable. The parties must be prepared to present demands and offers of settlement.

 The failure of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear in person or

to otherwise comply with the orders herein, will result in the immediate imposition of sanctions.

Sanctions will include, but will not be limited to, the attorneys' fees and travel costs of the other parties in

the case. In addition, the conference will not proceed and will be reset to another date.

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K:\COMMON\BATTAGLI\CASES\2150 Sigourney\notice.ene.wpd 4 06cv1643

Future Proceedings

In the event the case does not settle at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, the parties shall also

be prepared to discuss the following matters at the conclusion of the conference:

1. Any anticipated objections under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(E) to the

initial disclosure provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(A-D);

2. The scheduling of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) conference;

3. The date of initial disclosure and the date for lodging the discovery plan following

the Rule 26(f) conference; and,

4. The scheduling of a Case Management Conference pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 16(b).

The Court will issue an appropriate order addressing these issues and setting dates as appropriate.

Questions regarding this case may be directed to the Judge's chambers at (619) 557-3446.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 18, 2006

Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

Case 3:06-cv-01643-LAB-AJB Document 4 Filed 09/18/06 Page 4 of 4