Thomas v. Thomas et al

Filing 82

ORDER REFERRING AND CONTINUING MEDIATION. The Court hereby CONTINUES the mediation before the Honorable Susan D. Barrett from April 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. to May 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the United States Bankruptcy Courthouse, 600 James Brown Boulevard, Augusta, Georgia, 30901. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps on 3/27/24. (loh)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
DUBLIN DIVISION
DARRYL DANA THOMAS, JR.,
Plaintiff,
v.
KAREN THOMAS, Unit Manager, and
JACOB BEASLEY, Deputy Warden of
Security,
Defendants.

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CV 3:21-082

ORDER REFERRING AND CONTINUING MEDIATION
The Court hereby CONTINUES the mediation before the Honorable Susan D.
Barrett from April 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. to May 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in the United States
Bankruptcy Courthouse, 600 James Brown Boulevard, Augusta, Georgia, 30901. Personal
appearance by the parties is required to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the
mediation by reducing the time for communication of offers and expanding the ability to
explore options for settlement. A party representative with full settlement authority shall
appear in person. If any party is insured for the claims at issue, a representative of the insurer
with full settlement authority shall also appear in person.
Each party shall submit, in confidence, a concise statement of the evidence the
party expects to produce at trial, via email to [e-mail] or by U.S.
Mail to Susan Barrett, P.O. Box 1504, Augusta, GA, 30901 on or before April 29, 2024.
The statements should include: the relevant statutory/case law, an analysis on the strengths
and weaknesses of your case, an outline of the settlement negotiations to date, and other
matters you deem relevant. The statements should also include the name of each individual

AO 72A
(Rev. 8/82)

attending the mediation and in what capacity that person is attending.
The mediation will be conducted in such a manner as to not prejudice any party
in the event settlement is not reached. To that end, all matters communicated to the mediator
in confidence will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to any other party. The parties
agree, by participating in the settlement conference, that any statements made or presented
during the conference are confidential and may not be used as evidence in any subsequent
administrative or judicial proceedings. However, the mediator will share the results of
mediation with the presiding District and Magistrate Judges, including in the event of an
unsuccessful mediation the last offers of the parties, the resulting gap mediation could not
bridge, and her assessment of whether additional mediation efforts may be successful.
The parties, through counsel, should be prepared to begin the mediation with a
brief presentation outlining the factual and legal highlights of the case. Separate, confidential
caucuses will be held with each party. Attached is an outline to be reviewed prior to the
mediation to make the best use of the limited time allotted.
Upon successful conclusion of the mediation, the Court will require the parties
to execute the attached Settlement Terms Sheet.

SO ORDERED this 27th day of March, 2024, at Augusta, Georgia.

_____________________________________
____
_ ______
________
_ __
____
_______
____
_______
_
BRIAN
BRI
RIIA
R
AN
N K. EPPS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE
JUDGE
MAGISTR
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
[END OF DOCUMENT]

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AO 72A
(Rev. 8/82)

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PREPARATION
Experience shows that in negotiations the party who is best prepared usually obtains the best
result. Settlement conferences are more efficient if all parties and counsel are prepared.
Consider the following points, some of which may not apply, to aid in the effectiveness of
your settlement conference.
A.

FORMAT
1.

Parties with ultimate settlement authority must be personally present. If this is
not possible, you must notify the mediator in advance and discuss the
alternatives.

2.

The Court will use a mediation format, and private caucusing with each side;
the mediator may address your client directly. The mediator will not meet with
parties separate from counsel.

B.

ISSUES
1.

What issues (in and outside of this lawsuit) need to be resolved? What are the
strengths and weaknesses of each issue?

What is your most persuasive

argument? What is your weakest position?
2.

What remedies are available resulting from this litigation? From a settlement?

3.

Is there any ancillary litigation pending or planned which affects case value?
What about liens?

C.

CASE LAW/STATUTORY AUTHORITY
1.

D.

Are there key case law/statutory authority supporting your position?

NEGOTIATIONS
1.

What value do you want to start with? Why? Have you discussed this with
your client?


AO 72A
(Rev. 8/82)

2.

What value do you want to end with? Why? Have you discussed this with
your client? If it is significantly different from values you have placed on this
case at other times, does your client understand why?

3.

Is there confidential information which affects case value? Why should it not
be disclosed? How can the other side be persuaded to change value if it does
not have this information?

4.

What happens if you do not settle the case at conference? What is your best
alternative to a negotiated settlement? Why? What might change the outcome
of the settlement conference? Pending motions, discovery, expert’s report, etc.

E.

CLOSING
1.

How soon could checks/closing documents be received?

2.

If settlement is not reached, and further discovery is needed, what is your plan
for continuing settlement discussions? Do you want the Court involved in
these talks?

3.

If settlement is not reached, be prepared to discuss it again at the pretrial
conference.


AO 72A
(Rev. 8/82)

SETTLEMENTTERMSHEET
CASENAME:_____________________________________________________________________________
CIVILACTIONNO:__________________________________________________________________________
1. CONSIDERATION
Amount:_____________________________

DueDate:Specifyin§5

MadePayableTo:_____________________________________________________________________
PaymentFrom:_______________________________________________________________________
FormofPayment:

__TrustAccountCheck
__Wire





__CertifiedorCashier’sCheck




__Other_________________

PaymentTerms,ifany:_________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
ƌĞƚŚĞƌĞĂŶLJƚŚŝƌĚƉĂƌƚLJůŝĞŶƐƚŽďĞƉĂŝĚŽƵƚŽĨƐĞƚƚůĞŵĞŶƚ͗
ͺͺͺEŽͺͺͺzĞƐ͗>ŝĞŶŚŽůĚĞƌĂŶĚĂŵŽƵŶƚƚŽďĞƉĂŝĚ͗ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ

2.

ADDITIONALSETTLEMENTTERMS,IFANY:_________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

3. ADMISSIONOFLIABILITYANDSCOPEOFRELEASE(S)
AdmissionofLiability?

____Yes

____No

ScopeofReleasedParties:
___ Release of Defendant(s) Only (including, for corporate defendants, all parents, subsidiaries,
affiliates,officers,directors,employees,agents,andattorneys)
___GlobalReleaseofAllPartiesͲPlaintiff(s)andDefendant(s)(including,forcorporatedefendants,
allparents,subsidiaries,affiliates,officers,directors,employees,agents,andattorneys)
___ Other:______________________________________________________________________

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ScopeofReleasedClaims:
___ Limited:Allclaimsarisingoutofthesametransactionoroccurrenceasthesubjectmatterof
thecivilaction,whetherassertedorunasserted
___ Global:Allclaimsofanynatureregardlessofwhethertheyariseoutofthesametransaction
oroccurrenceasthesubjectmatterofthecivilaction,whetherassertedorunasserted
___ Other:_______________________________________________________________________
4. CONFIDENTIALITY
AreSettlementTermsConfidential?

_____Yes

_____No

IfConfidential,WhatCanbeSaidPublicly?




____DisputeAmicablyResolved
____Nothing
____Other_______________________________________________________________

ExceptionstoConfidentiality:
____Attorneys,TaxAdvisors
____ImmediateFamilyMembers
____AsOtherwiseRequiredbyLaw
____Other:______________________________________________________________

5.

SCHEDULE
FormalAgreementtobePreparedby: __________________________________________________
AndSenttoOtherPartiesonorBefore: __________________________________________________
OtherPartiestoRespondonorBefore: ___________________________________________________
FinalAgreementSignedonorBefore:

___________________________________________________

PaymentIssuedonorBefore:

___________________________________________________

DismissalFiledonorBefore:

___________________________________________________

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6.

EFFECTIVEDATEANDSETTLEMENTAUTHORITY
Thisagreementisbindingimmediatelyandnotcontingentuponexecutionofaformalsettlement
agreement.
Eachpartyrepresentativeaffirmsbysigningbelowfullauthoritytoenterintothissettlement
onbehalfoftheparty.
AGREEDTOTHIS________DAYOF_________________,20____.

[signaturesonfollowingpage]

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PLAINTIFF

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