Free Early Neutral Evaluation Conference - District Court of California - California

Case 3:08-cv-00447-WQH-LSP

Document 42

Filed 08/29/2008

Page 1 of 1

MINUTES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA INSWEB HON. LEO S. PAPAS Plaintiffs MICHAEL ADAMS CALLIE BJURSTROM ENE held. A Settlement Conference will be held on October 6, 2008, at 2:00 PM. Counsel for Plaintiffs only shall participate by telephone conference call. The Court will initiate the telephone conference call. A Settlement Conference will be held on October 14, 2008, at 2:00 PM. Counsel for Defendants only shall participate by telephone conference call. The Court will initiate the telephone conference call. A Settlement Conference will be held on October 27, 2008, at 9:00 AM. Counsel for Plaintiffs only shall participate by telephone conference call. The Court will initiate the telephone conference call. A Settlement Conference will be held on November 10, 2008, at 2:00 PM. Counsel for Defendants only shall participate by telephone conference call. The Court will initiate the telephone conference call. A Settlement Conference will be held on December 11, 2008, at 2:00 PM. All parties or their representatives who have full authority to enter into a binding settlement, in addition to the attorneys participating in the litigation, shall be present at the December 11, 2008 conference. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 16.3, all party representatives and claims adjusters for insured defendants with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding settlement, as well as the principal attorney(s) responsible for the litigation, must be present and legally and factually prepared to discuss and resolve the case at the mandatory settlement conference. Retained outside corporate counsel shall not appear on behalf of a corporation as the party who has the authority to negotiate and enter into a settlement. "Full authority to settle" means that the individuals at the settlement conference must be authorized to fully explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement terms acceptable to the parties. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648 (7th Cir. 1989). The person needs to have "unfettered discretion and authority" to change the settlement position of a party. Pitman v. Brinker Intl., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-486 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose of requiring a person with unlimited settlement authority to attend the conference includes 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. Nick v. Morgan's Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590 (8th Cir. 2001). DATED: August 25, 2008 TIMOTHY HALLER CHRIS LANEY ALLISON GODDARD v. AUTOBYTEL CT. DEPUTY J. JARABEK Attorneys No. 08-0447-WQH(LSP) Rptr. 3 H Defendants

Hon. Leo S. Papas U.S. Magistrate Judge