Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-01225/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-01225-8/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Tom Steve Coric
Plaintiff
County of Fresno
Defendant
Margret Mims
Defendant

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08cv1125-JTM (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

TOM STEVE CORIC,

Plaintiff,

v.

MARGRET MIMS, COUNTY OF FRESNO,

Defendants. 

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Case No. 08cv1225-JTM (BLM)

ORDER RESCHEDULING MANDATORY

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

Due to a scheduling conflict on the Court’s calendar, the Mandatory

Settlement Conference scheduled for October 18, 2010 is hereby

rescheduled to October 15, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. The conference will be

held in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major located at 940

Front Street, Suite 5140, San Diego, CA 92101. All discussions at the

Mandatory Settlement Conference will be informal, off the record,

privileged, and confidential. Counsel for any non-English speaking

party is responsible for arranging for the appearance of an interpreter

at the conference.

1. Personal Appearance of Parties Required: All parties,

adjusters for insured defendants, and other representatives of a party

having full and complete authority to enter into a binding settlement,

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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).

2 08cv1125-JTM (BLM)

as well as 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.

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 made in writing at least three (3)

court days prior to the conference. Failure to appear in person at the

Mandatory Settlement Conference will be grounds for sanctions.

2. 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 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 Plaintiff's prayer (excluding punitive damages prayers). The

purpose of this requirement is to have representatives present who can

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3 08cv1125-JTM (BLM)

settle the case during the course of the conference without consulting

a superior. Counsel for a government entity may be excused from this

requirement so long as the government attorney who attends the Mandatory

Settlement 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.

3. Confidential Settlement Statements Required: No later than

October 8, 2010, the parties shall submit directly to Magistrate Judge

Major's chambers confidential settlement statements no more than five

(5) pages in length. These confidential statements shall not be filed

or served on opposing counsel. Each party's confidential statement must

include the following:

(i) A brief description of the case, the claims and/or

counterclaims asserted, and the applicable defenses or position

regarding the asserted claims;

(ii) A specific and current demand or offer for

settlement addressing all relief or remedies sought. If a specific

demand or offer for settlement cannot be made at the time the brief is

submitted, then the reasons therefore must be stated along with a

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

or make an offer; and

(iii) A brief description of any previous settlement

negotiations, mediation sessions, or mediation efforts.

General statements that a party will "negotiate in good faith" is

not a specific demand or offer contemplated by this Order. It is

assumed that all parties will negotiate in good faith.

4. Requests to Continue a Mandatory Settlement Conference: Any

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request to continue the Mandatory Settlement Conference or request for

relief from any of the provisions or requirements of this Order must be

sought by a written ex parte application. The application must (1) be

supported by a declaration of counsel setting forth the reasons and

justifications for the relief requested, and (2) report the position of

opposing counsel or any unrepresented parties subject to the Order.

Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for continuances will not

be considered unless submitted in writing no fewer than seven (7) days

prior to the scheduled conference.

If the case is settled in its entirety before the scheduled date of

the conference, counsel and any unrepresented parties must still appear

in person, unless a written joint notice confirming the complete

settlement of the case is filed no fewer than twenty-four (24) hours

before the scheduled conference.

5. If Plaintiff is incarcerated in a penal institution or other

facility, Plaintiff's presence is not required at the Mandatory

Settlement Conference before Judge Major, and Plaintiff may appear by

telephone. In that case, defense counsel is to coordinate Plaintiff's

appearance by telephone.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 11, 2010

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

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