Free Order - District Court of California - California

Case 3:08-cv-00066-WQH-JMA

Document 5

Filed 02/21/2008

Page 1 of 5

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 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation Conference will be held on April 2, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the chambers of the Honorable Jan M. Adler, United States Magistrate Judge, Room 1165, U.S. Courthouse, 940 Front Street, San Diego, California. Pursuant to Rule 16.1(c) of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, all named parties, all counsel, and any other person(s) whose authority is required to negotiate and enter into settlement shall appear in person at the conference, shall be prepared to discuss the claims and defenses, and shall be legally JOSEPH RHOAN AND MARIA RHOAN, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) PALISADES COLLECTION L.L.C., et ) al., ) ) Defendants. ) ) ) Case No. 08-CV-0066-WQH (JMA) NOTICE AND ORDER FOR EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION CONFERENCE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

08cv0066

Case 3:08-cv-00066-WQH-JMA

Document 5

Filed 02/21/2008

Page 2 of 5

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

and factually prepared to discuss and resolve the case at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference. The individual(s) present

at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference with settlement authority must have the unfettered discretion and authority on behalf of the party to: 1) fully explore all settlement options

and to agree during the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference to any settlement terms acceptable to the party (G. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648, 653 (7th Cir. 1989)), 2) change the settlement position of a party during the course of the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference (Pitman v. Brinker Int'l, Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-86 (D. Ariz. 2003)), and 3) negotiate a settlement without being restricted by any predetermined level of authority (Nick v. Morgan's Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 596 (8th Cir. 2001)). Governmental entities may appear through litigation counsel only. As to all other parties, appearance by litigation counsel Retained outside corporate counsel shall

only is not acceptable.

not appear on behalf of a corporation as the party who has the authority to negotiate and enter into a settlement. The failure

of any counsel, party or authorized person to appear at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference as required will result in the immediate imposition of sanctions. All 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 conference. //

2

08cv0066

Case 3:08-cv-00066-WQH-JMA

Document 5

Filed 02/21/2008

Page 3 of 5

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

Although the submission of statements is not required in advance of the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, parties may submit concise statements if desired. If a statement is

submitted, it shall be provided to chambers no later than one week prior to the scheduled conference.1 If the parties submit

statements in connection with the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, they may either do so on a confidential basis or may exchange their statements. Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply to this case. All discovery shall be stayed until after the Rule

26(f) conference, unless otherwise permitted by Rule 26(f) or court order. In the event the case does not settle at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference, the parties shall also be prepared to discuss the following matters at the conclusion of the conference: 1. Any anticipated objections under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 26(a)(1) to the initial disclosure provisions of Rule 26(a)(1)(A-E); 2. 3. The scheduling of the Rule 26(f) conference; The date of initial disclosures and the date for

lodging the discovery plan following the Rule 26(f) conference; and 4. The scheduling of a Case Management Conference pursuant

to Rule 16(b). //

Statements may be delivered directly to chambers, e-mailed to [email protected], or faxed to (619) 702-9939. 3
08cv0066

1

Case 3:08-cv-00066-WQH-JMA

Document 5

Filed 02/21/2008

Page 4 of 5

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

Plaintiff's(s') counsel shall give notice of the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference to parties responding to the complaint after February 21, 2008. Questions regarding this case may be directed to the Magistrate Judge's law clerk at (619) 557-5585. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: February 21, 2008 Jan M. Adler U.S. Magistrate Judge

4

08cv0066

Case 3:08-cv-00066-WQH-JMA

Document 5

Filed 02/21/2008

Page 5 of 5

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

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONSENT TO TRIAL BEFORE A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THIS DISTRICT MAY, UPON THE CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, ON FORM 1A AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, CONDUCT ANY OR ALL PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING A JURY OR NON-JURY TRIAL, AND ORDER THE ENTRY OF A FINAL JUDGMENT. COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, SHOULD THEY DESIRE TO CONSENT. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOUR DECISION TO CONSENT OR NOT TO CONSENT IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY AND SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED SOLELY TO THE CLERK OF COURT. ONLY IF ALL PARTIES CONSENT WILL THE

JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE JUDGE TO WHOM THE CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED BE INFORMED OF YOUR DECISION. JUDGMENTS OF THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGES ARE APPEALABLE TO THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE.

K:\COMMON\Adler\CASES\Rhoan\ene order.wpd

5

08cv0066