Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00018/USCOURTS-caed-2_02-cv-00018-19/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:9607 Real Property Tort to Land

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF

TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL,

Plaintiff, CIV-S-02-0018 GEB/JFM/GGH

vs.

BRIGHTON OIL COMPANY, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

All non-fully dismissed parties and their counsel are directed to appear for

settlement conferences as follows:

1. February 25 and 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.: Attorneys and their clients with full

authority to make settlement decisions, and all pro per parties (insurance representatives may

appear on behalf of the parties if they so desire);

2. February 27, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.: The oversight committee, Department of

Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”) and its attorneys;

3. March 3 and 4, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.: Attorneys and their clients with full

authority to make settlement decisions, all pro per parties, insurance carrier representatives for all

parties with any type of potential insurance coverage, with full authority to make settlement

decisions, DTSC and their attorneys.

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Case 2:02-cv-00018-TLN-EFB Document 1026 Filed 01/03/08 Page 1 of 4
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“All parties” include those non-dismissed parties who elected to be

“nonparticipating” in the settlement process up to this point. See Participation Memorandum of

November 19, 2003.

These settlement conferences are scheduled pursuant to the November 4, 2003

Settlement Process Order, and specifically Stages II and III referenced therein. While the draft

Remedial Action Plan (“RAP”) awaits public comment, and then final approval by DTSC, the

settlement conferences can proceed based on the draft RAP. Final settlement will be contingent

upon the approval of a final RAP.

The settlement conference will begin with the parties organized in accordance

with the groups identified in the settlement process order as modified herein. The groups will

facilitate the court in working with the parties. The court may consider a different settlement

discussion structure during the course of the settlement conferences if necessary.

Notwithstanding the above, all settlement conference participants shall initially

meet for a joint session on February 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the commencement of the

conference to be updated on the events involving public comment, offers all groups might wish

to consider and other informational issues pertinent to the groups as a whole.

For settlement purposes the groups are as follows:

1. Owners’ Group:

Kester

McDuffee

Mid-Valley Development

Shankar

Stone

White Rock & Kilgore LLC

2. Arrangers’ Group:

Aerojet

Atlantic Richfield

Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

City of Sacramento

City of Roseville

County of Sacramento

Ellsworth Harrold

Exxon Mobil

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FB Hart

International Truck

John L. Sullivan

Petroleum Tank Line

PG&E

R.L. Niello 

Shell Oil

SMUD

State Agencies (CHP, Caltrans, State Garage)

Suburban Motors

Teichert, Inc.

Texaco Inc.

Turner Motors

Union Oil Company of California

Union Pacific Railroad

United States Air Force

Valley Livestock

Previously and currently identified non-participating parties (as set forth below) shall join the

Other Arrangers group:

Keil Enterprises

Maita Oldsmobile

A schedule shall be set for group meetings with the undersigned. The groups shall

be timely in their appearance at the specified time. As we approach settlement, the timing

between group meetings will become less and less.

The major issues for settlement include whether to settle on a per capita basis (i.e.,

total remediation costs are divided by the number of parties), a basis where individual equitable

factors are assessed, or a hybrid of the two. Also important to final resolution is a determination

of generator status and details governing those parties who will remain responsible for

implementing the remedy in the approved RAP, for any further monitoring, and work to be

performed in later years, assuming an improbable event which would necessitate any further

work to be performed.

All parties shall serve their settlement conference statements on Judge Hollows in

his chambers and on the other parties in the litigation 10 days prior to the date of the settlement

conference. The statements shall be based upon as much informal contact within and without the

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individual groups as possible. If it is possible for a group to prepare and serve a consolidated

settlement conference statement containing group agreements, it is advisable to do so. Except for

statements on behalf of a group, the statements shall be no greater in length than five pages. No

more than ten pages of exhibits may be served along with the settlement conference statements.

In assessing settlement issues, including an attorney’s belief that his client might

prevail in adjudication, each attorney, client and carrier shall reflect upon the statement of King

Phyrrus of Epirus after the battle of Heraclea in 280 BC (with the Romans): Another such

victory and I am ruined. Equating the Romans to the court or the prosecuting agency in this case,

we all know what happened to the Romans afterwards in terms of their many centuried existence,

but who remembers the “bankrupt” kingdom of Epirus?

DATED: 1/3/08

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

____________________________________

 GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:gh:035

 brighton.scdate

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