Vuppala v. Enterprise World Parking LLC

Order

The court ordered the parties to meet and confer—that is, to discuss the case directly—in a good-faith attempt to settle the action. The meeting must occur within 30 days after each defendant is served with the summons and complaint, and must last at least one hour.

The parties must discuss whether the plaintiff has satisfied the threshold requirement of standing, meaning whether she has a sufficient legal connection to the dispute to bring the case in federal court. If they cannot settle, they must also discuss whether further settlement discussions through the court’s mediation program or before a magistrate judge would be productive.

Required Joint Letter

Within 15 additional days, or within 45 days after service of the summons and complaint, the parties must submit a joint letter stating whether they settled. If they did not settle, the letter must request either referral to mediation or to a magistrate judge for a settlement conference, while indicating a preference, or an initial status conference.

Notice to Other Parties

Counsel who had appeared when the order was issued must promptly provide the order and Judge Garnett’s Individual Rules and Practices to counsel for parties who had not appeared, or directly to those parties if their counsel was unknown. Counsel must also file proof of that notice with the court.

Disposition and Scope

This is a procedural order directing settlement-related steps, reporting, and notice. The court did not rule on standing, liability, or any other underlying issue in the case.