(See 28 U.S.C. § 651, et seq.)
(a) Mediation Program
The Court has adopted a Mediation Plan (“Plan”), included as Appendix C
to these Local Rules. Pursuant to the Plan, all non-exempt civil cases are
automatically referred into the Court’s Mediation Program. The Plan, a list
of Court-approved mediators, and additional mediation materials are
available on the Court’s website.
(b) Judicial Settlement Conference
(1) The Court may, sua sponte or upon motion of any party, set a
judicial settlement conference at any time during the litigation.
Absent exceptional circumstances, judicial settlement conferences
will not be set in cases that have been referred into the Court’s
Mediation Program.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, in addition to the lead
counsel for each party, a representative of each party or the party’s
insurance company with authority to bind that party for settlement
purposes shall be present.
(3) The notice of the settlement conference shall set forth the format of
the conference, any requirement for information that must be
submitted to the presiding judicial officer prior to the conference,
and the types of documents or other information that must be
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brought to the conference.
(4) The statements or other communications made by any of the parties
or their representatives in connection with the settlement
conference shall remain confidential and shall not be admissible or
used in any fashion in the trial of the case or any related case.
(c) Other Methods of Dispute Resolution
The Court may, in its discretion, set any civil case for summary jury trial or
other alternative method of dispute resolution which the Court may deem
proper.
