Roberts, et al., v. KRG Capital, et al.,, No. 2:2005cv03758 - Document 112 (D. Ariz. 2008)
Court Description: ORDER denying as moot 108 Expedited Motion to Request that This Court Schedule a Conference Call etc. Settlement Conference is set for 10/28/08 at 1:30 pm.before Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson.. Signed by Magistrate Judge Lawrence O Anderson on 9/4/08.(DMT, )
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Roberts, et al., v. KRG Capital, et al., 1 Doc. 112 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 United States ex rel. Joyce Roberts,) Barbara Jo Landau, Shirley Nyetrae and) ) James Buie, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., KRG Capital,) LLC aka KRG Capital Partners, LLC,) Trinity Hospice, Inc., KRG Capital) Management, LP, KRG Capital Fund II,) L.P., KRG Capital Fund II (PA) L.P.,) KRG Capital Fund II (FF), L.P., KRG Co-) Investment, L.L.C., an American Capital) ) Strategies, LTD., ) ) Defendants. ) No. CV-05-03758-PHX-MHM SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE ORDER 19 20 This case has been referred to United States Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. 21 Anderson for a Settlement Conference by the assigned District Judge, the Hon. Mary H. 22 Murguia. (docket # 105) 23 The purpose of the Settlement Conference is to facilitate settlement of this 24 case, if that is appropriate. It will be conducted in such a manner as not to prejudice any 25 party in the event a settlement is not reached. To that end, the offer and demand, if any, 26 communicated to the undersigned in confidence will be kept confidential and will not be 27 disclosed to any adverse party absent express consent to do so. Rule 408, Federal Rules of 28 Evidence, applies to all aspects of the Settlement Conference. All communications and Dockets.Justia.com 1 information exchanged in and during the settlement process, not otherwise discoverable, 2 will not be admissible in evidence for any purpose and shall not be used for any purpose 3 outside the Settlement Conference itself. At the conclusion of the Settlement Conference, 4 all documents submitted and exchanged by the parties shall be returned, destroyed, or 5 otherwise disposed of in the manner directed by the Settlement Judge upon the request of 6 any party. 7 At the Settlement Conference and subject to modification by the Court 8 depending on the uniqueness of each case, each party, through counsel or individually if 9 unrepresented, may be asked to give a brief presentation outlining the factual and legal 10 highlights of that party’s case and respond to general and a specific questions by the 11 Settlement Judge. Thereafter, separate and private caucuses will be held with each party, 12 the party’s representative and the Settlement Judge. Complete candor with the Court is 13 not only expected but is required. In the Matter of Fee, 182 Ariz. 597, 898 P.2d 975 14 (1995). 15 This Order mandating the physical appearance of the parties and insurers is 16 intended to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Settlement Conference by 17 reducing the time for communication of offers and expanding the ability to explore the 18 varied options for settlement, to give the adverse parties the opportunity to hear the 19 rationale and arguments regarding the likelihood of success of the claims/defenses 20 directly from the lawyers who will be trying the case, to meet the litigants themselves and 21 to hear first-hand the candid comments, if any, made by the Settlement Judge about the 22 case or the judicial process. 23 Years of experience has taught the undersigned that the physical presence, 24 rather than the availability by telephone, of those individuals with the authority to settle 25 cases substantially increases the likelihood of settlement and leads to more meaningful 26 negotiations. 27 28 Consequently, pursuant to the authority granted to the Court in, among others, 28 U.S.C. §473(b)(5) and Rule 16(b), FED.R.CIV.P., the parties and -2- 1 representatives of the parties with "full and complete authority"1 to discuss settlement of 2 the case SHALL physically appear at the aforesaid date and time unless expressly 3 excused by the undersigned by timely motion and order issued prior to the subject 4 settlement conference for good cause shown. Schwartzman v. ACF Industries, 167 5 F.R.D. 694 (D. New Mexico 1996) (Department of Justice's failure to participate in good 6 faith in mandatory pretrial settlement conferences warranted, inter alia, payment of all of 7 opposing parties' reasonable expenses incurred during prior pretrial settlement 8 conferences). 9 Accordingly, 10 Pursuant to Rule 16(b), Fed. R. Civ. P., and 28 U.S.C. §473 (b)(5), 11 IT IS ORDERED: 12 1. All parties and their counsel who are responsible for the case SHALL 13 physically appear before the undersigned Settlement Judge, Courtroom 302, Sandra Day 14 O'Connor U. S. Courthouse, 401 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday, 15 October 28, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. The Court has allocated 3 hours for the Settlement 16 Conference or longer if meaningful progress is being made towards settlement. 17 If the Defendants are an insured party, a representative of that party’s 18 insurer with full and complete authority to discuss and settle the case SHALL physically 19 appear at the aforesaid date and time. An uninsured or self-insured corporate party 20 SHALL physically appear at aforesaid Settlement Conference through its authorized 21 representative with full and complete authority to discuss and settle the case. Pitman v. 22 Brinker International, Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481 (D. Ariz. 2003), amended on review in part 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 “Full and complete authority” within this Order means that the individual appearing for, or on behalf of, the Defendant(s) shall have the express authority and discretion to authorize the payment to, or accept the terms of, Plaintiff’s last settlement demand. “Full and complete authority” does not mean, however, that Defendant or representative is required to pay such demand or any sum whatsoever. Kothe v. Smith, 771 F.2d 667, 669 (2nd Cir.1985) (Rule 16 “was not designed as a means for clubbing the parties-or one of them-into an involuntary compromise.”); In re Novak, 932 F.2d at 1406 n. 18. -3- 1 in Pitman v. Brinker International, Inc., 2003 WL 23353478, 1 (D. Ariz. 2003); Gee Gee 2 Nick v. Morgan’s Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590 (8th Cir. 2001) (District judge acted well 3 within his discretion by imposing a monetary fine payable to the Clerk of the District 4 Court as a sanction for failing to prepare requested memorandum and deciding to send a 5 corporate representative to ADR conference with limited authority.); Lockhart v. Patel, 6 M.D., 115 F.R.D. 44 (E.D.Ky 1987) (In medical malpractice action, answer stricken for 7 failure of insurance representative with authority to settle to appear at settlement 8 conference.). 9 2. Experience teaches that settlement conferences are often unproductive 10 unless the parties have exchanged settlement demands and compromise offers before the 11 conference and have made a serious effort to settle the case on their own. Accordingly, 12 before arriving at the settlement conference, the parties shall negotiate and make good 13 faith efforts to settle the case without the involvement of the Court. The parties shall 14 exchange written correspondence regarding settlement. The Plaintiff's demand shall be 15 delivered to defense counsel and the insurer’s representative, if any, not less than 30 days 16 before the Settlement Conference. Defendant’s response to the demand shall be delivered 17 to Plaintiffs’ counsel not less than 14 days before the Settlement Conference. 18 3. If a third person or entity asserts a substantial lien on any settlement 19 monies for medical and hospital expenses and/or lost wages paid, such as, a worker’s 20 compensation carrier or a health insurance carrier, arrangements shall be made to notify 21 said person or entity of the Settlement Conference so that such person, entity or its 22 authorized representative may appear and participate in the Settlement Conference. 23 Plaintiff’s counsel shall promptly provide a true and complete copy of this Order to such 24 person, entity or its authorized representative. A.R.S. §23-1023(c); Stout v. State 25 Compensation Fund, 197 Ariz. 238, 3 P.3d 1158 (2000). 26 4. In the absence of a prior order by the undersigned to the contrary, copies 27 of all Settlement Conference Memoranda shall be exchanged between counsel, at least, 28 five (5) business days before the Settlement Conference. Counsel shall provide a copy -4- 1 of all memoranda to their client(s) and explain the settlement conference procedures to 2 their clients before the Settlement Conference. 3 Each party shall provide the Court with the original of that party’s 4 Settlement Conference Memoranda, at least, five (5) business days before the 5 Settlement Conference. The Settlement Conference Memoranda shall NOT be filed 6 with the Clerk. The original Settlement Conference Memoranda shall be delivered 7 directly to the chambers of U. S. Magistrate Lawrence O. Anderson or e-mailed to the 8 undersigned's ECF mailbox (anderson_chambers@azd.uscourts.gov).2 Each 9 Memorandum shall address the following: 10 a. A brief statement of the facts of the case. 11 b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other 12 grounds upon which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties’ 13 likelihood of prevailing on the claims and defenses; the damages allegedly and reasonably 14 incurred by Plaintiff and, if appropriate, Counterclaimant and a discussion of the major 15 issues in dispute. c. A summary of the proceedings to date including rulings on motions and 16 17 motions outstanding, if any. d. The estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, 18 19 pretrial and trial. e. A brief statement of the facts and issues upon which the parties agree 20 21 and disagree. f. Whether there is/are any distinct or dominant issue(s) which, if resolved, 22 23 would likely aid in the disposition of the case. g.. The relief sought. 24 25 26 27 28 2 This mailbox is not to be used as a general means of communication to the Court or its staff. -5- 1 h. Each party’s position on settlement, including the amount that the 2 Plaintiff is currently willing to accept and Defendant(s) is/are willing to offer and the 3 history of past settlement discussions, offers and demands. 4 In the absence of any Order by the undersigned to the contrary, each party’s 5 Settlement Conference Memoranda shall not exceed seventeen (17) pages exclusive of 6 attachments and shall otherwise comply with LRCiv 7.2, 7.2(a) and 7.1(b)(1), Rules of 7 Practice for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, as amended on 8 December 1, 2007. No responsive memorandum shall be permitted. 9 5. If the Settlement Conference is held, the Court will assume that the 10 parties have agreed to separate meetings (caucuses) with the Settlement Judge. Judicial 11 and lawyer ethical rules prohibit ex parte caucuses without such agreement. By appearing 12 at this conference, the Court will deem that the parties have consented to this procedure 13 and waived any objection thereto unless a written Objection is filed not less than three (3) 14 business days before the Settlement Conference. 15 6. Absent good cause shown, if any party, counsel or insurer’s represen- 16 tative fails to promptly appear at the Settlement Conference, fails to comply with the 17 terms of this Order, including the failure to timely provide the settlement conference 18 memoranda, is substantially unprepared to meaningfully participate in the Settlement 19 Conference, or fails to participate in good faith in the Settlement Conference, the 20 settlement conference may be vacated and sanctions may be imposed pursuant to Rules 21 16(f) and 37(b)(2)(B) (C), and (D), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure which may include 22 the entry of default judgment, dismissal of the Complaint and/or an award of reasonable 23 attorney’s fees and expenses and/or a finding of contempt. G. Heileman Brening, Inc. v. 24 Joseph Oat Corporation, 871 F.2d 648 (7th Cir. 1989); Lockhart v. Patel, M.D., supra.; 25 Gee Gee Nick v. Morgan’s Foods, Inc., supra. 26 7. If one or more of the attorneys or unrepresented parties believes that the 27 Settlement Conference would be a futile act resulting in a waste of time and money, 28 inconsistent with Rule 1, FED.R.CIV.P., because, for example, one side has adopted an -6- 1 unreasonable position from which that party refuses to deviate, any party shall timely file 2 a written motion with the referring District Judge, requesting that the Settlement Confer- 3 ence referral be withdrawn and the Settlement Conference vacated or postponed. 4 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that counsel shall keep the Court 5 apprized of the possibility of settlement and should settlement be reached, the parties 6 shall immediately file a Notice of Settlement with the clerk of the Court with a copy to 7 this Court’s chambers. 8 9 10 11 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Expedited Motion to Request that This Court Schedule a Conference Call etc., docket # 108, is DENIED as moot. Dated this 4th day of September, 2008. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -7-
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
