Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00912/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-00912-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

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17-cv-00912-JAH-JLB

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROY DAVIS GASH,

Plaintiff,

v.

VINCETTA INVESTORS, LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 17-cv-00912-JAH-JLB

NOTICE AND ORDER FOR IN 

PERSON EARLY NEUTRAL 

EVALUATION CONFERENCE

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation of your case with 

parties present will be held in person on January 16, 2018, at 1:45 PM 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 Early 

Neutral Evaluation 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 Early Neutral Evaluation 

Conference (“ENE”) 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 conference discussions will be informal, off the record, privileged and 

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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 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 are 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 ENE 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 filed as a motion

at least ten calendar days prior to the conference. Failure to appear at the ENE 

conference 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 

conference. In the case of an entity, an authorized representative of the entity who is not 

retained outside counsel must be present and must have discretionary authority to commit 

 

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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 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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the entity 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 United States government entity may be excused from this requirement 

so long as the government attorney who attends the ENE 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.

4. Formal Discovery: Based upon the Court’s familiarity with these matters 

and in the interest of promoting the just, efficient and economical determination of this 

action, all formal discovery shall be stayed in this case until the completion of the Early 

Neutral Evaluation Conference set herein;

5. ENE Statements and In Person Meet and Confer Required: Twenty-one 

days prior to the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, Plaintiff’s counsel shall lodge with 

Magistrate Judge Burkhardt’s chambers via e-mail to efile_Burkhardt@casd.uscourts.gov 

and serve on opposing counsel a statement, not in excess of two pages, including:

(a) An itemized list of the specific issues on the subject premises which are the 

basis of the claimed violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act;

(b) A statement of the amount and category of damages claimed by Plaintiff in 

this action;

(c) The amount claimed for attorney’s fees and costs;

(d) Plaintiff’s demand for settlement of the case in its entirety; and,

(e) Plaintiff’s statement shall include as an attachment, any expert or consultant 

report regarding the premises and the alleged violations. Plaintiff’s counsel shall also be 

prepared to present for in camera review documentation in support of the amount of 

attorney’s fees and costs claimed.

After service of Plaintiff’s statement and no later than fourteen days prior to the 

Early Neutral Evaluation Conference (whether or not Plaintiff’s statement is served), 

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counsel for the parties, and any unrepresented parties, shall meet and confer in person at 

the subject premises regarding settlement of (a) alleged premise violations, and (b) 

damages, costs, and attorney fee claims. Plaintiff’s counsel shall be responsible to make 

arrangements for the conference. The meet and confer obligation cannot be satisfied by 

telephone or by the exchange of letters.

No later than five court days prior to the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference,

counsel shall lodge with Magistrate Judge Burkhardt’s chambers via e-mail to 

efile_Burkhardt@casd.uscourts.gov a joint statement no longer than two pages, 

certifying that the required in-person conference between counsel has taken place and 

setting forth the results of the meet and confer, any settlement demands and/or offers 

exchanged, and the issues remaining to be discussed at the Early Neutral Evaluation 

Conference (such as property issues, damages, and attorney’s fees and costs). 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. ENE statements shall be timely

lodged notwithstanding the pendency of any motion. 

Requests to lodge additional confidential statements outlining the nature of the case, 

the claims, the defenses, and the parties’ positions regarding settlement of the case may be 

directed to Judge Burkhardt’s law clerk at (619) 557-6624.

6. New Parties Must Be Notified by Plaintiff’s Counsel: Plaintiff’s counsel 

shall give notice of the ENE to parties responding to the complaint after the date of this 

notice.

7. Case Management Under the Amended Federal Rules: In the event the 

case does not settle at or before the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, the parties shall 

also be prepared to discuss the following matters at the conclusion of the conference:

(a) Any anticipated objections under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(E) 

to the initial disclosure provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(AD);

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(b) The scheduling of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) conference;

(c) The date of initial disclosure and the date for lodging the discovery plan 

following the Rule 26(f) conference; and,

(d) The scheduling of a Case Management Conference pursuant to Federal Rule 

of Civil Procedure 16(b).

The Court will issue an appropriate order addressing these issues and setting dates 

as appropriate.

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

questions regarding this case may be directed through a joint call by the parties to Judge 

Burkhardt’s law clerk at (619) 557-6624. For additional information, please consult Judge 

Burkhardt’s Civil Chambers’ Rules, available on the Court’s website.

If the case does not settle before or at the ENE, the court will issue a scheduling 

order setting deadlines for completing discovery and dates for other pre-trial proceedings.

The failure of any party to comply with the procedures set forth in this order 

shall result in the imposition of sanctions.

A Notice of Right to Consent to Trial Before a United States Magistrate Judge is 

attached for your information.

Dated: December 12, 2017

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROY DAVIS GASH,

Plaintiff(s)

v.

VINCETTA INVESTORS, LLC, et al.,

Defendant(s)

Case No.: 17-cv-00912-JAH-JLB

NOTICE, CONSENT, AND

REFERENCE OF A CIVIL ACTION TO 

A MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Notice of a magistrate judge's availability. A United States magistrate judge of this court is 

available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action (including a jury or nonjury trial) and to 

order the entry of a final judgment. The judgment may then be appealed directly to the United 

States court of appeals like any other judgment of this court. A magistrate judge may exercise this 

authority only if all parties voluntarily consent. 

You may consent to have your case referred to a magistrate judge, or you may withhold your 

consent without adverse substantive consequences. The name of any party withholding consent will 

not be revealed to any judge who may otherwise be involved with your case. 

Consent to a magistrate judge's authority. The following parties consent to have a United States 

magistrate judge conduct all proceedings in this case including trial, the entry of final judgment, 

and all post-trial proceedings.

Printed Names Signatures of all parties and counsel for all parties Dates

REFERENCE ORDER

IT IS ORDERED: This case is referred to United States Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt, to 

conduct all proceedings and order entry of a final judgment in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) 

and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73.

Date United States District Judge

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