Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02227/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02227-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:4321 Review of Agency Action-Environment

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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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND

INFORMATION CENTER, ET AL.,

Plaintiff(s),

v.

THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE,

Defendant(s).

_____________________________________/

No. C-05-2227 SI (JCS)

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE AND SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE ORDER

(E-FILING CASE)

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

The above matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero for a Settlement

Conference on the issue of attorneys’ fees and costs. 

You are hereby notified that a Settlement Conference is scheduled for June 22, 2006, at

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

California.

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.

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 full 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

Case 3:05-cv-02227-SI Document 67 Filed 06/12/06 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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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

Letter.

In addition to providing Chambers with a complete set of their briefs regarding

attorneys’ fees, the parties shall also LODGE a confidential Settlement Conference Letter with

the undersigned's Chambers no later than June 15, 2006. Please 3-hole punch the document at

the left side, or fax the document to Chambers at (415) 522-3636.. 

It is not unusual for the conference to last three (3) or more hours. The 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: June 12, 2006

 JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:05-cv-02227-SI Document 67 Filed 06/12/06 Page 2 of 2