Minks v. AEP River Operations, LLC

Filing 41

ORDER setting Settlement Conference Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. Confidential letters due May 29. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stephanie K. Bowman on 4/20/12. (jl1)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
Katherine Minks
Plaintiff,
Case No. 1:09cv543
vs.
AEP River Operations,
Defendant.
ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
This case is hereby set for settlement conference on Thursday, MAY 31, 2012, at
10:00 a.m., at the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 E. 5th Street, Room 706,
Cincinnati, Ohio. The undersigned U.S. Magistrate Judge will serve as the facilitator of
the settlement conference. At least 21 days prior to the settlement conference, plaintiff
must make a settlement demand to defendant. Defendant shall have 7 days thereafter to
make an offer to plaintiff.
Not later than noon, May 29, 2012, each party shall submit to the Magistrate Judge
only, and without formal filing with the Clerk, a confidential letter of five pages or less
regarding potential settlement, including a statement of the strengths and weaknesses of
the case, an assessment of liability and damages, a summary of prior settlement
negotiations, and a proposal as to how to settle this case now. These letters will be
maintained by the Court separate and apart from the case file, and may be delivered by
fax [phone]) or email ([e-mail]).
The Court may initiate ex parte communications with each party during the course

of settlement discussions. Throughout the entirety of this settlement conference, party
representatives with complete authority to negotiate a settlement of the case shall be
present.
Pursuant to S. D. Ohio Civ. R. 16.3(c), all statements made by the parties relating
to the substance or merits of claims or defenses made in the case, whether written or oral,
made for the first time during the settlement conference or in the settlement conference
statements required above shall be kept confidential by the Court, the parties, and counsel
and shall not be admissible in evidence for any reason during the trial of this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Stephanie K. Bowman
United States Magistrate Judge