Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00798/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00798-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 423
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Withdrawal 28 USC 157
Cause of Action: 11:101 Bankruptcy

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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

JEFFREY H. BECK, 

Plaintiff(s),

v.

FORT JAMES CORPORATION, ET AL.,

Defendant(s),

_____________________________________/

IN RE: 

CROWN VANTAGE, INC.,

Debtor,

_____________________________________/

CROWN VANTAGE, INC.,

Plaintiff(s),

v.

FORT JAMES CORPORATION, ET AL.,

Defendant(s).

_____________________________________/

Case No. C-05-0798 MMC (JCS)

 

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

AND SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

ORDER

Case No. C-02-3838 MMC (JCS)

Case No. C-02-3839 MMC (JCS)

(E-FILING CASES)

TO ALL PARTIES AND COUNSEL OF RECORD:

You are hereby notified that a Settlement Conference is scheduled for June 21, 2006, at

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

California 94102.

Additionally, the following individuals and counsel are ORDERED to meet and confer in

person on or before June 7, 2006, to discuss settlement: Jeffrey H. Beck, Kenneth F. Khoury,

and Jason N. Poulos, and, if the clients desire, their lead trial counsel. 

Case 3:05-cv-00798-MMC Document 35 Filed 12/13/05 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Plaintiff shall submit a settlement proposal, in writing, with a copy to the undersigned, no

later than May 24, 2006. A response/counter-proposal from Defendant shall be submitted, also

in writing and with a copy to the undersigned, no later than May 31, 2006. 

It is the responsibility of counsel to ensure that whatever discovery is needed for all sides to

evaluate the case for settlement purposes is completed by the date of the Settlement Conference. Counsel

shall cooperate in providing discovery informally and expeditiously.

Lead trial counsel shall appear at the Settlement Conference with the parties. Jeffrey H. Beck,

Kenneth F. Khoury, and Jason N. Poulos shall also attend the Settlement Conference. Any party who is

not a natural person shall be represented by the person(s) with unlimited authority to negotiate a

settlement. A person who needs to call another person not present before agreeing to any settlement does

not have unlimited authority. If a party is a governmental entity, its governing body shall designate one of its

members or a senior executive to appear at the Settlement Conference with authority to participate in the

Settlement Conference and, if a tentative settlement agreement is reached, to recommend the agreement to

the governmental entity for its approval. An insured party shall appear with a representative of the carrier

with full authority to negotiate up to the limits of coverage. 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.

Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference Statement, which must be lodged with

the undersigned's Chambers no later than June 14, 2006. The Settlement Conference Statement

should not be electronically filed with the Clerk of the Court, and need not be served on opposing counsel. 

The parties are encouraged, however, to exchange Settlement Conference Statements. If Settlement

Conference Statements are exchanged, any party may submit an additional confidential settlement letter to

the Court. The contents of this confidential settlement letter will not be disclosed to the other parties.

The Settlement Conference Statement shall include the following:

1. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

Case 3:05-cv-00798-MMC Document 35 Filed 12/13/05 Page 2 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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2. A brief statement of the claims and defenses including, but not limited to, statutory or other

grounds upon which the claims are founded, and a candid evaluation of the parties' likelihood of prevailing

on the claims and defenses. The more candid the parties are, the more productive the conference will be.

3. A list of the key facts in dispute and a brief statement of the specific evidence relevant to a

determination of those facts.

4. A summary of the proceedings to date and any pending motions.

5. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial and trial.

6. The relief sought, including an itemization of damages.

7. The party's position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history of

past settlement discussions. The Court's time can best be used to assist the parties in completing their

negotiations, not in starting them. The parties are urged to carefully evaluate their case before taking a

settlement position since extreme positions hinder the settlement process.

Settlement Conference Statements may be submitted on CD-ROM with hypertext links to exhibits. 

Otherwise, the portion of exhibits on which the party relies shall be highlighted.

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.

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.

Case 3:05-cv-00798-MMC Document 35 Filed 12/13/05 Page 3 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Dated: December 13, 2005

_____________________________

 JOSEPH C. SPERO

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:05-cv-00798-MMC Document 35 Filed 12/13/05 Page 4 of 4