Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01402/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01402-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1051 Trademark Infringement

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07cv1402-JLS (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SYMANTEC CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v.

GLOBE 2000 CORP., et al.,

Defendants.

 

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Case No. 07cv1402-JLS (BLM)

ORDER GRANTING JOINT MOTION TO

CONTINUE MANDATORY SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE

[Doc. No. 16]

On March 28, 2008, the parties jointly requested that this Court

continue the April 7, 2008 Mandatory Settlement Conference to early May

in order to afford the parties additional time to complete discovery

that they anticipate will aid in settlement negotiations. Doc. No. 16.

Good cause appearing, the joint motion is GRANTED. The Mandatory

Settlement Conference is hereby continued to May 6, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.

The conference will be held in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Barbara

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

All discussions at the Mandatory Settlement Conference will be informal,

off the record, privileged, and confidential. Counsel for any nonEnglish speaking party is responsible for arranging for the appearance

of an interpreter at the conference.

Case 3:07-cv-01402-JLS-BLM Document 17 Filed 04/01/08 Page 1 of 4
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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).

2 07cv1402-JLS (BLM)

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 three (3)

court days prior to the conference. Failure to appear in person at the

Mandatory 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

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

of a corporate entity, an authorized representative of the corporation

Case 3:07-cv-01402-JLS-BLM Document 17 Filed 04/01/08 Page 2 of 4
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3 07cv1402-JLS (BLM)

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

Mandatory 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

April 29, 2008, 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:

(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.

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4 07cv1402-JLS (BLM)

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 Mandatory Settlement Conference: Any

request to continue the Mandatory 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 fewer 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 fewer than twenty-four (24) hours

before the scheduled conference.

All other dates and deadlines shall remain as previously set.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 1, 2008

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

 

COPY TO: 

HONORABLE JANIS L. SAMMARTINO

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

ALL COUNSEL

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