Southern Four Wheel Drive Assoc. et al v. United States Forest Services et al

Filing 21

ORDER - NOTICE that a judicial settlement conference is not appropriate at this time. Signed by Magistrate Judge David Keesler on July 19, 2010. (jhg)

-DCK Southern Four Wheel Drive Assoc. et al v. United States Forest Services et al

Doc. 21

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA BRYSON CITY DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:10-CV-15-MR-DCK SOUTHERN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION, UNITED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION, THE BLUE RIBBON COALITION, INC., ) ) ) ) ) Plaintiffs, ) v. ) ) UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, ) NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST, ) MARISUE HILLIARD, Forest ) Supervisor, ) ) Defendants, ) ) TROUT UNLIMITED, PUBLIC ) EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ) RESPONSIBILITY, WILD SOUTH, ) ) Intervenor-Defendants. ) ___________________________________ )

NOTICE

THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE COURT sua sponte regarding the parties' joint request, during a telephone conference on June 29, 2010, that the Court consider conducting an early judicial settlement conference in this matter. This issue has been referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b), and immediate review is appropriate. The Court commends the parties for seeking early alternative dispute resolution, and the undersigned has carefully considered the matter and consulted with the presiding district judge. The Court concludes based on the status of the case, the short-term availability of judicial resources, and the relative time-urgency of the request, that a judicial settlement conference is not appropriate at this time. Alternatively, the Court respectfully encourages the parties to consider early mediation

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with a private mediator. The Court does not rule out the possibility of a judicial settlement conference at a later stage in the litigation, if necessary and warranted.

Signed: July 19, 2010

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