Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00770/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00770-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1114 Trademark Infringement

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07cv0770-BEN (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KAHALA FRANCHISE CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v.

B & P CORPORATION, et al.,

Defendants. 

 

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Case No. 07cv0770-BEN (BLM)

ORDER (1) DENYING JOINT MOTION

TO CONTINUE, (2) VACATING

EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION

CONFERENCE, AND (3) SETTING

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

[Doc. No. 19]

On June 19, 2007, the parties filed a joint motion to continue the

Early Neutral Evaluation Conference currently scheduled for July 13,

2007, on the grounds that Plaintiff’s lead counsel is unavailable on

that date. Doc. No. 19. In light of the pending motion to dismiss or,

alternatively, stay the litigation pending arbitration, the Court finds

it inappropriate to convene an Early Neutral Evaluation Conference at

this time. See CivLR 16.1(c) (explaining that the “judicial officer

shall hold [conferences] as he or she deems appropriate”). Accordingly,

the joint motion is DENIED and the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference

currently set for July 13, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. is hereby VACATED.

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-2- 07cv0770-BEN (BLM)

However, the Court finds it appropriate to schedule a follow up

Settlement Conference. The Settlement Conference shall be conducted on

August 15, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Barbara

L. Major located at 940 Front Street, Suite 5140, San Diego, CA 92101.

All discussions at the Settlement Conference will be informal, off the

record, privileged, and confidential. Counsel for any non-English

speaking party is responsible for arranging for the appearance of an

interpreter at the conference.

a. Personal Appearance of Parties Required: All parties,

adjusters for insured defendants, and other representatives of a party

having full and complete authority to enter into a binding settlement,

as well as the principal attorneys responsible for the litigation, must

be present in person and legally and factually prepared to discuss

settlement of the case. Counsel appearing without their clients

(whether or not counsel has been given settlement authority) will be

cause for immediate imposition of sanctions and may also result in the

immediate termination of the conference.

Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, persons required to

attend the conference pursuant to this Order shall not be excused from

personal attendance. Requests for excuse from attendance for

extraordinary circumstances shall be made in writing at least seventytwo (72) hours prior to the conference. Failure to appear in person at

the Settlement Conference will be grounds for sanctions.

b. Full Settlement Authority Required: In addition to counsel

who will try the case, a party or party representative with full

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1 "Full settlement authority" means that the individuals at the settlement

conference must be authorized to explore settlement options fully and to agree at that

time to any settlement terms acceptable to the parties. Heileman Brewing Co. v. Joseph

Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648, 653 (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 contemplates that

the person's view of the case may be altered during the face to face conference. Id.

at 486. A limited or a sum certain of authority is not adequate. See Nick v. Morgan's

Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 595-97 (8th Cir. 2001).

-3- 07cv0770-BEN (BLM)

settlement authority1 must be present for the conference. In the case

of a corporate entity, an authorized representative of the corporation

who is not retained outside counsel must be present and must have

discretionary authority to commit the company to pay an amount up to the

amount of the Plaintiff's prayer (excluding punitive damages prayers).

The purpose of this requirement is to have representatives present who

can settle the case during the course of the conference without

consulting a superior. Counsel for a government entity may be excused

from this requirement so long as the government attorney who attends the

Settlement Conference (1) has primary responsibility for handling the

case, and (2) may negotiate settlement offers which the attorney is

willing to recommend to the government official having ultimate

settlement authority.

c. Confidential Settlement Statements Required: No later than

August 8, 2007, the parties shall submit directly to Magistrate Judge

Major's chambers confidential settlement statements no more than five

(5) pages in length. These confidential statements shall not be filed

or served on opposing counsel. Each party's confidential statement must

include the following:

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-4- 07cv0770-BEN (BLM)

(i) A brief description of the case, the claims and/or

counterclaims asserted, and the applicable defenses or position

regarding the asserted claims;

(ii) A specific and current demand or offer for settlement

addressing all relief or remedies sought. If a specific demand or offer

for settlement cannot be made at the time the brief is submitted, then

the reasons therefore must be stated along with a statement as to when

the party will be in a position to state a demand or make an offer; and

(iii) A brief description of any previous settlement

negotiations, mediation sessions, or mediation efforts.

General statements that a party will "negotiate in good faith" is

not a specific demand or offer contemplated by this Order. It is

assumed that all parties will negotiate in good faith.

d. Requests to Continue a Settlement Conference: Any request to

continue the Settlement 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 (1) be supported by a

declaration of counsel setting forth the reasons and justifications for

the relief requested, (2) confirm compliance with Civil Local Rule 26.1,

and (3) report the position of opposing counsel or any unrepresented

parties subject to the Order. Absent extraordinary circumstances,

requests for continuances will not be considered unless submitted in

writing no less than seven (7) days prior to the scheduled conference.

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 joint motion confirming the complete

settlement of the case is submitted no less than twenty-four (24) hours

before the scheduled conference.

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-5- 07cv0770-BEN (BLM)

Failure of required counsel or parties to comply with this Order

may result in the imposition of sanctions.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 22, 2007

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

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