Bronson v. Patterson, et al.

Filing 29

ORDER denying 28 MOTION TO EXCUSE DEFENDANTS' INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ATTENDING SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE - Signed by Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr on 10/07/2014. (Baker, C.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
NO. 5:14-CV-167-FL
FREDERICK C. BRONSON,
Plaintiff,

v.
WILLIAM E. PATTERSON, CODE
ELECTRIC, INC.,
Defendant.

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ORDER

Defendants move the court to excuse the attendance of their insurance carrier
representative from physically attending the court-hosted settlement conference, which is to be
held before the undersigned on Friday, October 24, 2014 in Raleigh. [DE-28]. Local rules
require the attendance of a representative of an insurance carrier for any party against whom a
claim has been made, although this requirement may be excused in the court's discretion. See
Local Civil Rules 10 1.2(d)(l )(iii) and (d)(2). In support of the motion, Defendants state that
their insurance representative will be attending to business in New York but will be fully
available by telephone during the conference and that Defendants and their counsel will have
settlement authority for the settlement conference. [DE-28].
Where the parties have jointly moved for a court-hosted settlement conference at the
relatively early stages of this case, the court finds it would be beneficial if a representative of
Defendants' insurance carrier were to be physically present for the court-hosted settlement
conference as required. Accordingly, Defendants' motion to excuse their insurance carrier
representative from physically attending the court-hosted settlement conference is DENIED.

So ordered, the 7th day of October 2014.

R:frttrdff4
United States Magistrate Judge

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