Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00018/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00018-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 

---

1

13-cv-18 JLS (JLB)

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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

350 WEST ASH URBAN HOME, INC. et 

al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

EVEREST INDEMNITY INSURANCE 

COMPANY,

Defendant.

Case No.: 13-cv-18 JLS (JLB)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a Settlement Conference will be held on October 

21, 2016, at 9:00 AM in the Chambers of Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt, Edward J. 

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

The following are mandatory directions for the parties preparing for the Settlement

Conference. Absent express permission obtained from this Court, and 

notwithstanding the pendency of any motion, counsel shall timely comply with the 

dates and deadlines ordered herein.

1. Purpose of Conference: The purpose of the Settlement Conference 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 an early resolution of the case. All 

Settlement 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 Settlement Conference.

Case 3:13-cv-00018-JLS-JLB Document 116 Filed 09/30/16 Page 1 of 3
2

13-cv-18 JLS (JLB)

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. Personal Appearance of 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 Settlement 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 Settlement Conference.

Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, persons required to attend the 

Settlement 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 

attend the conference or obtain proper excuse will be considered 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 

Settlement 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 

 

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).

Case 3:13-cv-00018-JLS-JLB Document 116 Filed 09/30/16 Page 2 of 3
3

13-cv-18 JLS (JLB)

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

is to have representatives present who can settle the case during the course of the Settlement

Conference without consulting a superior. 

4. Settlement Conference Statements Required: On or before October 14, 

2016, the parties shall lodge statements of five pages or less directly to the chambers of 

Magistrate Judge Burkhardt outlining 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,” “offer a nominal cash sum,” or “be prepared to make an offer at the conference” is 

not a specific demand or offer. The statement shall also list all attorney and non-attorney 

conference attendees for that 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. 

The parties’ confidential settlement conference statements shall be lodged via e-mail 

at efile_burkhardt@casd.uscourts.gov. The statements shall not be filed via the Court’s 

CM/ECF system. 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 confidentially or whether they are served on opposing 

counsel is within the parties’ discretion. 

Dated: September 30, 2016

Case 3:13-cv-00018-JLS-JLB Document 116 Filed 09/30/16 Page 3 of 3