Anderson et al v. National Football League Management Council et al

Filing 70

ORDER re Attendance at Settlement Conference. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu on 06/12/2013. (dmrlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/12/2013)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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COURTNEY ANDERSON, et al.,

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Plaintiffs,
v.

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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, et al.,

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No. C-12-06386 WHA (DMR)
CONSOLIDATED WITH:
No. C-12-06415 WHA (DMR)
No. C-13-00882 WHA (DMR)

Defendants.
___________________________________/

ORDER RE ATTENDANCE AT
SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

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The court has received the parties’ settlement conference submissions. Based upon the

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submissions, it appears that only attorneys, and not the parties, plan to personally attend the June 21,

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2013 settlement conference. Further, it does not appear that all parties will be represented by lead

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trial counsel at the settlement conference. The undersigned’s April 17, 2013 Notice of Settlement

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Conference and Settlement Conference Order provides that “Lead trial counsel shall appear at the

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settlement conference with the parties and with the person(s) having full authority to make the

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final decision as to whether any settlement offer is made, accepted, or rejected (if full authority does

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not rest with the party.” [See Docket No. 53 (Apr. 17, 2013 Order) at (C) (emphasis in original).]

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With respect to the attendance of all parties, if the parties wish to seek relief from the court’s

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attendance requirement, they must meet and confer immediately and submit a stipulation with a

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proposal that is designed to meet the court’s concern that persons with full settlement authority be

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physically present at the settlement conference. For example, if each side wishes to designate a

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subset of the parties as a representative committee to appear in person with full authority to settle the

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case on behalf of all parties, the court would give serious consideration to such a proposal. Any

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such proposal must be submitted by no later than June 13, 2013.

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With respect to attendance of counsel, it appears that only lead trial counsel for the Centers

Schobel plaintiffs, but it is unclear whether Mr. Sims is lead trial counsel for those plaintiffs as his

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name does not appear on the docket for any of these cases. It appears that one attorney, Amit

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Kurlekar, will appear in person on behalf of Defendants, and another attorney, Marla Axelrod, plans

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to appear by telephone. However, neither attorney is listed on the docket as lead trial counsel.

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Further, the court has not granted Ms. Axelrod (or anyone else) leave to appear by telephone.

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Consistent with its order, the court expects lead trial counsel for all parties to be present. Any

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request for relief must be filed immediately, and must set forth good cause.

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Dated: June 12, 2013

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RT

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ER

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LI

NO

DONNA M. RYU na M. Ryu
United Statesge Don Judge
Jud Magistrate

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A

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DERED

O OR
IT IS S

R NIA

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FO

IT IS SO ORDERED.

UNIT
ED

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S DISTRICT
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For the Northern District of California

plaintiffs plans to personally attend. James Sims plans to attend on behalf of the Anderson and

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United States District Court

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D IS T IC T O
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