Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00665/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00665-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:2801 Petroleum Marketing Practices Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BP West Coast Products LLC,

Plaintiff,

v.

Crossroad Petroleum, Inc. et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 12-cv-00665-JLS-JLB

ORDER SETTING MANDATORY 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

[ECF No. 576]

On August 31, 2016, District Judge Janis L. Sammartino ordered that “[t]he parties 

SHALL by all means practicable attend, prior to the aforementioned status conference, a 

two day settlement conference with Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt.” (ECF No. 576.) IT

IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT a two day Mandatory Settlement Conference (“MSC”)

of your case will be held on October 24, 2016 AND October 25, 2016, commencing at 

9:00 AM each day, in the Chambers of Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt, Edward J. 

Schwartz U.S. Courthouse, 221 West Broadway, Suite 5140, San Diego, California 92101. 

On or before September 22, 2016, the parties shall file a joint motion proposing a schedule

for their personal participation in the two day MSC.

The following are mandatory directions for the parties preparing for their MSC. 

Absent express permission obtained from this Court, and notwithstanding the 

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pendency of any motion, counsel shall timely comply with the dates and deadlines

ordered herein.

1. Purpose of Conference: The purpose of the MSC is to permit an informal 

discussion between the attorneys, parties, and the settlement judge of every aspect of the 

lawsuit in an effort to achieve a resolution of the case. All conference discussions will be 

informal, off the record, privileged and confidential. Counsel for any non-English speaking 

parties is responsible for arranging for the appearance of an interpreter at the conference.

2. Personal Appearance of ALL PARTIES Required: All parties, adjusters 

for insured defendants, and other representatives of a party having full settlement authority 

as explained below, and 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. If each of the principal attorneys responsible for 

the litigation is not listed on the docket as an “ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED,” then they 

each shall enter their appearance on the docket as soon as practicable, but in no event later 

than ten calendar days prior to the MSC.

Unless there is 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 filed as a motion

at least ten calendar days prior to the conference. Failure to appear at the MSC will be 

grounds for sanctions.

3. 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 

 

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“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 

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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.

4. MSC Statements Required: On or before October 11, 2016, the parties 

SHALL lodge supplemental settlement statements of ten pages or less (exclusive of 

exhibits) directly to the chambers of Magistrate Judge Burkhardt updating any 

developments concerning the nature of the case, the claims, the defenses, and the parties’ 

positions regarding settlement of the case. The settlement position must include a specific 

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

or offer cannot be made at the time the brief is submitted, then the reasons therefor must 

be stated along with a statement as to when the party will be in a position to state a demand 

or offer. A general statement that a party will “negotiate in good faith” is not a specific 

demand or offer. The parties shall also attach to or include within their statement a

list in of all attorney and (in alphabetical order by last name) non-attorney conference 

attendees for your side, including the name(s) and title(s)/position(s) of the 

party/party representative(s) who will attend and have settlement authority at the 

conference.

MSC statements shall be lodged via email at efile_burkhardt@casd.uscourts.gov. If 

exhibits are attached and the total submission amounts to more than 20 pages, a hard copy 

must also be delivered directly to chambers. Whether these statements are submitted 

 

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).

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confidentially or whether they are served on opposing counsel is within the parties’ 

discretion. Statements of more than five pages will not be considered.

5. Requests to Continue an MSC: Local Rule 16.3 governs MSCs. Requests 

to continue MSCs are rarely granted. However, the Court will consider formal, filed ex 

parte or joint motions to continue an MSC when extraordinary circumstances exist that 

make a continuance appropriate. In and of itself, having to travel a long distance to appear 

in person is not “extraordinary.” Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for 

continuances will not be considered unless filed no less than ten calendar days prior to 

the scheduled conference.

6. Settlement Prior to MSC: The Court encourages the parties to work on 

settling the matter in advance of the MSC. In the event that the parties resolve the matter 

prior to the day of the MSC, the following procedures must be followed before the Court 

will vacate the MSC and excuse the parties from appearing:

a. The parties may file a Joint Motion to Dismiss and separately lodge by email 

a proposed order to the assigned District Judge.

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 If a Joint Motion to Dismiss 

is filed, the Court will vacate the MSC. The parties are encouraged to contact 

Judge Burkhardt’s Chambers by telephone to notify the Court of their pending 

Joint Motion;

b. If the parties settle more than 24 hours before the conference but are not able 

to file a Joint Motion to Dismiss, they must file a Notice of Settlement 

containing the electronic signatures of counsel for all settling parties and 

identifying a date by which the Joint Motion to Dismiss will be filed. The 

parties are encouraged to contact Judge Burkhardt’s Chambers by telephone 

to notify the Court of their filed Notice of Settlement;

 

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See Electronic Case Filing Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, United States District 

Court for the Southern District of California § 2(h), for the chambers’ official email address and 

procedures on emailing proposed orders.

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c. If the parties settle less than 24 hours before the conference, counsel for the 

settling parties must JOINTLY call chambers and inform the Court of the 

settlement and receive Court permission to not appear at the MSC.

After having reviewed Judge Burkhardt’s Civil Chambers Rules, appropriate 

questions regarding this case or the mandatory directions set forth herein may be 

addressed through a joint call by the parties to Judge Burkhardt’s law clerks at (619) 557-

6624. For additional information, please see Judge Burkhardt’s Civil Chambers Rules.

Dated: September 1, 2016

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