Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-00135/USCOURTS-cand-4_04-cv-00135-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

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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

MICHAEL BUTLER, ET AL., No. C-04-00135 PJH (JCS)

Plaintiff(s),

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

v. CONFERENCE AND SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE ORDER

ADOPTION MEDIA, LLC, ET AL.,

Defendant(s).

___________________________________/

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 15, 2007, at

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

California 94102.

In addition, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

1. No later than 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 2007, Plaintiffs’ counsel shall send an e-mail to

Defendants’ counsel, and to the undersigned at the address given below, a letter with: (1) a list of all

jurisdictional facts in this case with respect to each defendant, for which Plaintiffs would like a

stipulation; and (2) a description of each evidentiary issue that Plaintiffs believe needs to be resolved

in order to settle with Defendant Adoption Media, LLC, and a proposed resolution of each

evidentiary issue.

2. No later than 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2007, Defendants’ counsel shall e-mail to

Plaintiffs’ counsel, and to the undersigned, a letter that: (1) responds to each of the jurisdictional

facts upon which Plaintiffs seek a stipulation; (2) lists any additional jurisdictional facts that

Case 4:04-cv-00135-PJH Document 366 Filed 04/30/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Defendants believe should be stipulated to in connection with the decision on jurisdiction in this

case. This letter should also include a response to Plaintiffs’ list of evidentiary issues that need to be

resolved in order to settle with Defendant Adoption Media, LLC and to Plaintiffs’ proposed

resolution of the evidentiary issues.

3. On May 10, 2007, or May 11, 2007, lead trial counsel for Plaintiffs and lead trial

counsel for Defendants are ORDERED to meet and confer in person regarding the two letters in an

effort to narrow the issues that need to be resolved at the Settlement Conference. 

4. Lead trial counsel shall appear at the Settlement Conference with all of the parties. 

However, Defendants have asked that individual defendant Dale R. Gwilliam attend the Settlement

Conference on behalf of himself and Nathan W. Gwilliam, and that Nathan W. Gwilliam be excused

from attending the Settlement Conference. Plaintiffs shall advise the Court of their position on

this matter by e-mail no later than May 2, 2007. 

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.

5. Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference Statement, which shall be emailed no later than 2:00 p.m. on May 11, 2007, to the following address:

Mary_Ann_Gomez@ cand.uscourts.gov. The Settlement Conference Statement should NOT

be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Court, NOR served on opposing counsel. The

Settlement Conference Statement shall include a proposal for settling the entire case and any other

information the parties think would be useful at the Settlement Conference. 

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.

Case 4:04-cv-00135-PJH Document 366 Filed 04/30/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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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: April 30, 2007

____________________________ JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:04-cv-00135-PJH Document 366 Filed 04/30/07 Page 3 of 3