Gann v. Progressive Management Systems, Inc.

Filing 6

NOTICE AND ORDER for Early Neutral Evaluation Conference. Early Neutral Evaluation set for 9/12/2016 02:30 PM before Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford. Signed by Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford on 8/12/2016.(kcm)

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AUG 15 2016

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CLERK, U.s, DISTR!CT (:OURT
SOUTHERl\ LiiSTRiCT OF Ct-u;::or:,N!/l
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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PETERGANN,

Case No.: 16cv1248 JLS (KSC)
Plaintiff,

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v.

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PROGRESSIVE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS, INC.,

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NOTICE AND ORDER SETTING
EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION
CONFERENCE

Defendant.

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IT IS ORDERED that an Early Neutral Evaluation of your case will be held on

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September 12,2016 at 2:30 in the Chambers of Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford,

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United States District Court, 333 West Broadway, Suite 1010, San Diego, California

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92101. The following are mandatory guidelines for the parties preparing for the Early
Neutral Evaluation Conference.
1.

Purpose of Conference:

The purpose of the Early Neutral Evaluation

Conference ("ENE") is to permit an informal discussion between the attorneys, parties, and
the settlement judge of every aspect of the lawsuit in an effort to achieve an early resolution
of the case. 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.

16cv1248 JLS (KSC)

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2.

Personal Appearance of Parties Is Required: All parties, adjusters for

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insured defendants, and other representatives of a party having full and complete authority

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to enter into a binding settlement, and the principal attomeys responsible for the litigation,

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must be present in person and legally and factually prepared to discuss settlement of the

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case. Full authority to settle means that the individuals at the ENE be authorized to fully

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explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement terms acceptable to

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the parties. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648,653 (7th Cir.

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1989). The person needs to have "unfettered discretion and authority" to change the

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settlement position of a party. Pitman v. Brinker Int'/, Inc., 216 F.RD. 481,485-486 (D.

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Ariz. 2003). One ofthe purposes of requiring a person with unlimited settlement authority

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to attend the conference is that the person's view of the case may be altered during the

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face-to-face conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. at 486. Limited or sum certain authority is

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not adequate. Nick v. Morgan's Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 595-597 (8th Cir. 2001).

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Counsel appearing without their clients (whether or not counsel has been given

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settlement authority) will be cause for immediate imposition of sanctions and will also

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result in the immediate termination of the conference.

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3.

Full Settlement Authority Required: In addition to counsel who will try the

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case, a party or party representative with full settlement authority must be present for the

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conference.

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corporation who is not retained outside counsel must be present and must have

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discretionary authority to commit the company to pay an amount up to the amount of the

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plaintiff sprayer (excluding punitive damage prayers). The purpose of this requirement is

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to have representatives present who can settle the case during the course of the conference

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without consulting a superior. Counsel for a government entity may be excused from this

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requirement so long as the government attorney who attends the ENE conference (1) has

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primary responsibility for handling the case; and (2) may negotiate settlement offers which

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the attorney is willing to recommend to the government official having ultimate settlement

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authority.

In the case of a corporate entity, an authorized representative of the

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4.

Confidential ENE Statements Required: No later than seven (7) days

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before the ENE, the parties shall submit confidential statements of five pages or less

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directly to the chambers of Magistrate Judge Crawford outlining the nature of the case, the

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claims, and the defenses. These statements shall not be filed or served on opposing

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counsel. They can be lodged via email at [e-mail]. If exhibits

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are attached and the total submission amounts to more than 20 pages, a hard copy must be

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delivered directly to chambers.

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5.

New Parties Must Be Notified by Plaintiffs Counsel: Plaintiffs counsel

shall give notice of the ENE to parties responding to the complaint after the date of this
notice.
6.

Case Management Under the Amended Federal Rules: In the event the

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case does not settle at the ENE, the parties can expect to leave the ENE with Rule 26

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compliance dates or deadlines. Parties shall therefore be prepared to discuss the following

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matters at the conclusion of the ENE conference:

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a.

Any anticipated objections under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

26(a)(1)(E) to the initial disclosure provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

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26(a)(1)(A-D);

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b.

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within 24 days following the ENE:

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c.

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The date of initial disclosure and the date for lodging the discovery plan

within 14 days following the Rule 26(t) conference; and,
d.

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The scheduling ofthe Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(t) conference

The scheduling of a Case Management Conference pursuant to Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 16(b) within 21 days following the Rule 26( t) conference.
The Court will issue an order following the ENE addressing these issues and setting
dates as appropriate.
7.

Requests to Continue an ENE Conference: Local Rule 16.1 (c) requires that

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an ENE take place within 45 days of the filing of the first answer. Requests to continue

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ENEs are rarely granted. However, the Court will consider formal, written ex parte or joint
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requests to continue an ENE conference when extraordinary circumstances exist that make

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a continuance appropriate. In and of itself, having to travel a long distance to appear in

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person is not "extraordinary."

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continuances will not be considered unless submitted in writing no less than seven (7)

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days prior to the scheduled conference.

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Absent extraordinary circumstances, requests for

Questions regarding this case or the mandatory guidelines set forth herein may be
directed to the Magistrate Judge's law clerks at [phone].
A Notice of Right to Consent to Trial Before a United States Magistrate Judge is
attached for your information.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: August 12,2016

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United Sta es Magistrate Judge

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NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONSENT TO TRIAL

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BEFORE A UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 28 U.S.C. § 636( c), YOU ARE

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HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE OF THIS DISTRICT MAY,

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UPON THE CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, ON FORM lA AVAILABLE IN THE

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CLERK'S OFFICE, CONDUCT ANY OR ALL PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING A JURy

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OR NON-JURY TRIAL, AND ORDER THE ENTRY OF A FINAL JUDGMENT.

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COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFF SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE

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CONSENT OF ALL PARTIES, SHOULD THEY DESIRE TO CONSENT.

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YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOUR DECISION TO CONSENT OR NOT

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TO CONSENT IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY. ONLY IF ALL PARTIES CONSENT

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WILL THE JUDGE OR MAGISTRATE JUDGE TO WHOM THE CASE HAS BEEN

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ASSIGNED BE INFORMED OF YOUR DECISION.

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JUDGMENTS OF THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGES ARE APPEALABLE TO

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THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND

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THE FEDERAL RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE.

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