Zhu v. UCBH Holdings, Inc. et al

Filing 315

ORDER re (312 in 3:09-cv-04208-JSW) Notice (Other), filed by Daniel Gautsch, (313 in 3:09-cv-04208-JSW) MOTION to Appear by Telephone Defendant Thomas S. Wu's Request for Excusal of Personal Attendance and Request for Telephonic Appeareance at Settlement Conference filed by Thomas S. Wu Order re telephonic appearances and logistics (Beeler, Laurel) (Filed on 2/24/2013)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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KYUNG CHO, ET AL.,
Plaintiff(s),

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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No. C 09-04208 JSW (LB)
ORDER REGARDING SETTLEMENT
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION AND
LOGISTICS

v.
UCBH HOLDINGS, INC., ET AL.,

[ECF Nos. 312, 313]
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Defendant(s).

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___________________________________/

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The parties have a settlement conference set for February 26, 2013. Four people ask to appear
telephonically. See ECF Nos. 312, 313.

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The undersigned observes the following. A, some (but not all) of the parties asking to be

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excused probably meet the extraordinary and unjustified hardship standard in the undersigned’s

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standard order. B, there are logistics issues with this many participants, and while the court is still

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considering the utility of different parties’ participation, the court trusts that counsel would have

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considered these issues in asking for appearances to be excused. (At the same time, in-person

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participation can be useful on many levels, and the problem with not attending is that these

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opportunities are lost.)

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At this point, the undersigned excuses the in-person attendance and directs the following.

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First, video conferencing is an option. For the two lawyers representing the four who want to be

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excused, they should arrange to have their tech people contact (in one email) Stefan Curl (the IT

ORDER RE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
C 09-04208 JSW (LB)

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person here) by email to [e-mail]. The lawyers should tell the tech folks in

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advance that the court’s set-up is Polycam equipment, and we can do both ISDN and IP, although IP

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would be dial-out only. Also, possibly one location has the best set-up and can run the call. This

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should be accomplished first thing Monday morning, February 25 (as in, by 10 a.m.)

dial-in numbers, both as a back-up in case video conferencing just is too late in the game, and also to

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allow private consultations. Mr. Bauer should set up a call-in number that will serve as the general

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call-in number for all parties participating by phone. He should circulate it to all defendants before

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the hearing and by email to the court’s orders box at [e-mail]. Then, he should

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have his client’s telephone number should confidential communications be necessary. Ms. Park

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should arrange a call-in number and circulate it to her clients in case separate confidential

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For the Northern District of California

Second, the undersigned is stilling mulling logistics, but counsel should set up the following

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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communications are necessary with them. (She can bring that to the settlement conference.) She

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also should have her clients’ individual telephone numbers. All clients must be on the phone or

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video conference call during the entire settlement conference (as opposed to merely being available

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for a call) (except to the extent that medical issues preclude full participation).

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Third, Mr. Bauer (or his tech person) should update the undersigned and Mr. Curl by email to the
two email addresses above no later than Monday, February 26, 2013, at 3:30 p.m. with the logistics.

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This disposes of ECF Nos. 312 and 313.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: February 24, 2013
LAUREL BEELER
United States Magistrate Judge

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ORDER RE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
C 09-04208 JSW (LB)

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