Hirschkorn v. City of Paris et al
Filing
35
ORDER granting 34 Motion to Close Mediation. Signed by Honorable James R. Marschewski on February 6, 2013. (lw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FORT SMITH DIVISION
RANDY HIRSCHKORN
v.
PLAINTIFF
CIVIL NO. 11-2116
CITY OF PARIS; CITY OF PARIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT; and
LARRY MERRILL, in his official and
individual capacities
DEFENDANT
ORDER
On February 7, 2011, the above parties will be participating in a settlement conference
regarding a lawsuit filed by plaintiff on June 23, 2011. (ECF No. 1). The Defendants filed a
Motion to Close Mediation (ECF No. 34) on February 5, 2013.
Defendant, a governing body within the state of Arkansas, is required under the Arkansas
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to contact the news media prior to all meetings. A.C.A. §
25-19-106(b). Any meeting, either formal and informal, of a governing body is to be held open
to the public. A.C.A. § 25-19-106(a). FOIA is liberally interpreted most favorably to having
public business performed in an open and public manner. Harris v. City of Fort Smith, 359 Ark.
355 (Ark. 2004). This Court acknowledges the liberal interpretation of FOIA in allowing access
to all governing body meetings; however, keeping in mind that fostering settlement of any case
or controversy is an Article III function, we must balance countervailing factors against the
presumption of public access to settlement conference negotiations.
“A settlement conference is an opportunity for the parties, with the court acting as an
AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)
impartial mediator, to have frank discussion about the value of avoiding a trial.” U.S. v. Glens
Falls Newspaper, 160 F.3d 853, 858 (2nd Cir. 1998)(citations omitted). During these discussions
the parties are often called upon to evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of their respective
cases. Parties participating in a settlement conference would be reluctant to make any
concessions or openly discuss all avenues of settlement if they could expect that their statements
during negotiations or their settlement proposals would be published at large to the public.
Public access to settlement conference negotiations would in effect render a settlement
conference useless because parties would not openly evaluate their case with the court.
Based on the above discussion, the undersigned finds the settlement statements and
settlement negotiations to be held on the above reference date will not be open to the public and
the Defendant’s Motion to Close Mediation (ECF No. 34) is GRANTED.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of February 2013.
/s/ J. Marschewski
HON. JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
AO72A
(Rev. 8/82)
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