Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_97-cv-02965/USCOURTS-cand-3_97-cv-02965-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, No. C 97-2965 MMC (JCS)

Plaintiff(s),

NOTICE AND ORDER RE

v. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES

ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO., ET AL.,

(E-FILING CASE)

Defendant(s).

____________________________________/

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

The Court has become aware that various parties may have interpreted the Court’s prior directives

regarding settlement in a manner which is at odds with the Court’s intent. For purposes of clarification, IT

IS HEREBY ORDERED that each client representative attending a settlement conference on behalf of any

party must have unlimited settlement authority. Settlement authority up to a cap or down to a floor does

not qualify as “unlimited settlement authority.” The representative of the client(s) in the settlement

conference must have the ultimate decision-making authority on whether and how to settle the case, subject

only to the approval of the board of directors of the private entities or of the governing bodies of the public

entities. If the client representative needs to make a call before agreeing to any settlement, that person does

not have unlimited settlement authority. The representative shall be prepared to respond to, and must

bring whatever information is necessary to respond to, any proposals made at the settlement conference.

Please take note that the Court is not ordering that any party agree to any settlement. The entire

import of this Order is that the person making the final decision, subject to the approvals 

//

//

Case 3:97-cv-02965-MMC Document 620 Filed 06/21/05 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

discussed above, must be present at the settlement conference.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 21, 2005

 /s/ Joseph C. Spero 

JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:97-cv-02965-MMC Document 620 Filed 06/21/05 Page 2 of 2