Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00882/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00882-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 130
Nature of Suit: Miller Act
Cause of Action: 28:1352 Miller Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

A settlement conference has been set for August 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., located at 510 19th

Street, Bakersfield, California. 

Unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Court, the attorneys who will try the case shall 

appear at the settlement conference with the parties and the person or persons having full authority

to negotiate and settle the case on any terms1at the conference. Consideration of settlement is a 

serious matter that requires preparation prior to the settlement conference. Set forth below are the 

procedures the Court will employ, absent good cause, in conducting the conference.

 

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Insurance carriers, business organizations, and governmental bodies or agencies whose settlement 

agreements are subject to approval by legislative bodies, executive committees, boards of directors or the like 

shall be represented by a person or persons who occupy high executive positions in the party organization and 

who will be directly involved in the process of approval of any settlement offers or agreements. To the extent 

possible the representative shall have the authority, if he or she deems it appropriate, to settle the action on 

terms consistent with the opposing party's most recent demand.

TRI-SIGNAL INTEGRATION, INC.,

 Plaintiff,

v.

SOUZA CONSTRUCTION, INC. et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:15-cv-00882 - EPG

ORDER REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE SET FOR AUGUST 5, 2016

Case 1:15-cv-00882-EPG Document 21 Filed 06/07/16 Page 1 of 3
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I. Meaningful Settlement Demands and Counteroffers

At least twenty-one days before the settlement conference, Plaintiff SHALL submit to 

Defendants via fax or e-mail, a written itemization of damages and a meaningful2settlement demand 

which includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is appropriate. Thereafter, no later than 

fourteen days before the settlement conference, Defendants SHALL respond, via fax or e-mail, with 

an acceptance of the offer or with a meaningful counteroffer, which includes a brief explanation of 

why such a settlement is appropriate. 

If settlement is not achieved, each party SHALL attach copies of their settlement offers to their 

Confidential Settlement Conference Statement, as described below. 

II. Confidential Settlement Conference Statements

At least five court days prior to the settlement conference, the parties shall submit, directly to 

Judge Thurston's chambers by e-mail to JLTorders@caed.uscourts.gov, a Confidential Settlement

Conference Statement. Each statement shall be clearly marked "confidential" with the date and time 

of the Settlement Conference indicated prominently thereon. 

The Confidential 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, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon 

which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties' likelihood of 

prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in dispute.

3. A summary of the proceedings to date.

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

5. The relief sought.

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

of past settlement discussions, offers and demands.

 

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“Meaningful” means that the offer is reasonably calculated to settle the case on terms acceptable to the 

offering party. “Meaningful” does not include an offer which the offering party knows will not be acceptable to 

the other party. If, however, the offering party is only willing to offer a settlement which it knows the other 

party will not accept, this should trigger a recognition the case is not in a settlement posture and the parties 

should confer about continuing or vacating the settlement conference via stipulation.

Case 1:15-cv-00882-EPG Document 21 Filed 06/07/16 Page 2 of 3
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The statement should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor served on any other 

party, although the parties may file a Notice of Lodging of Settlement Conference Statement. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 2, 2016 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-00882-EPG Document 21 Filed 06/07/16 Page 3 of 3