Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-00636/USCOURTS-cand-4_05-cv-00636-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Bigfoot Interactive Inc.
Counter-claimant
Digital Impact, Inc.
Counter-defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DIGITAL IMPACT, INC., 

 

Plaintiff(s),

v.

BIGFOOT INTERACTIVE, INC., 

 

Defendant(s).

 

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No. C05-0636 SBA (BZ)

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE 

ORDER - PATENT CASE

The above matter was referred to me for settlement

purposes.

On December 5, 2005, I conducted a telephonic hearing at

which both sides were represented by counsel. With the consent

of the parties and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED

that no later than January 13, 2006, Kevin Johnson, the Senior

Vice President of Products and Marketing for plaintiff, Digital

Impact and Al Diguido, CEO and President of defendant Bigfoot

Interactive Inc., shall meet in person, preferably outside the

Case 4:05-cv-00636-SBA Document 26 Filed 12/14/05 Page 1 of 4
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presence of counsel, to discuss a resolution of this dispute. 

They shall meet in San Francisco, California or in any other

place to which they both agree. The principals are urged to

explore a creative, business resolution of their dispute. If

the case settles, the parties are to notify the Court

immediately. 

Each party shall provide the other informally,

expeditiously and pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 408 with

all information reasonably needed to further the progress of

the settlement negotiations. Confidential information may be

provided subject to a protective order. 

If there is no settlement, it is ORDERED that a telephonic

conference is scheduled for January 18, 2006 at 3:45 p.m., to

discuss the status of the negotiations. Counsel for plaintiff

shall get counsel for defendant on the line and call chambers

at 415-522-4093. The principals need not participate.

It is further ORDERED that a Settlement Conference is

scheduled for February 24, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., in Courtroom G,

15th Floor, Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San

Francisco, California 94102. Counsel who will try the case

shall appear at the Settlement Conference with the party

principals who met earlier. The negotiations will be

principally among the party principals in my presence.

Each party shall prepare a Settlement Conference

Statement, which must be served on opposing counsel and lodged

(not faxed) with my chambers no later than seven calendar days

prior to the conference. The Statement shall not be filed with

the Clerk of the Court. The Statement may be submitted on CDCase 4:05-cv-00636-SBA Document 26 Filed 12/14/05 Page 2 of 4
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ROM with hypertext links to exhibits. Otherwise, the portion

of exhibits on which the party relies shall be highlighted. 

The Settlement Conference Statement shall not exceed ten pages

of text and twenty pages of exhibits and shall include the

following:

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

2. A brief statement of the claims and defenses

including, but not limited to, statutory or other grounds upon

which the claims are founded.

3. A summary of any related litigation.

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 parties' 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. 

So there is no confusion about the parties’ settlement

position, plaintiff must serve a demand in writing no later

than fourteen days before the conference and defendant must

respond in writing no later than eight days before the

conference. The parties are urged to carefully evaluate their

case before taking a settlement position since extreme

positions hinder the settlement process. 

Along with the Statement each party shall lodge with the

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g:\bzall\-refs\refs.05\digital impact.bigfoot.wpd 4

court a document of no more than three pages containing a

candid evaluation of the parties' likelihood of prevailing on

the claims and defenses, and any other information that party

wishes not to share with opposing counsel. The more candid the

parties are, the more productive the conference will be. This

document shall not be served on opposing counsel.

It is not unusual for conferences to last three 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 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.

Dated: December 14, 2005

____________________________________ Bernard Zimmerman

 United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:05-cv-00636-SBA Document 26 Filed 12/14/05 Page 4 of 4