ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

JENNIFER L. THURSTON, Magistrate Judge.

As a matter of policy, Judge Drozd requires all parties to engage in a formal settlement conference regardless of whether they believe a settlement conference is likely to yield a compromise. Thus, the Court sets a settlement conference on May 17, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. and ORDERS:

1. The plaintiff will appear by telephone. Defense counsel may appear by telephone, if he files a request to do so by May 10, 2019;

2. Unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Court, the attorney who will try the case SHALL appear at the Settlement Conference with the parties and the person or persons having authority to negotiate and settle the case on any reasonable terms1 discussed at the conference.

3. Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires preparation prior to the settlement conference. Set forth below are the procedures the Court will employ, absent good cause, in conducting the conference.

a. No later than April 12, 2019, the plaintiff SHALL submit to the defendant via fax or e-mail, a written itemization of damages and a meaningful2 settlement demand which includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is appropriate. Thereafter, no later than April 26, 2019, the defendant SHALL respond via fax or e-mail, with an acceptance of the offer or with a meaningful counteroffer, which includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is appropriate. If it appears productive, the parties SHALL continue to exchange offers until settlement is achieved, or it appears settlement cannot be achieved absent the Court's assistance.

If settlement is not achieved through this exchange, each party SHALL attach copies of their settlement offers to their Confidential Settlement Conference Statement, as described below. Copies of these documents shall not be filed on the court docket.

b. No later than April 10, 2019, the defense shall submit by e-mail to JLTOrders@caed.uscourts.gov, a confidential settlement conference statement. So that it is received no later than April 10, 2019, the plaintiff SHALL submit his settlement conference statement to:

The statements should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court and need not be served on any other party. The parties may file a Notice of Lodging of Settlement Conference Statement. Each statement shall be clearly marked "confidential" with the date and time of the Settlement Conference indicated prominently thereon.

c. The confidential settlement conference statement shall include the following:

1. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

2. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties' likelihood of prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in dispute.

3. A summary of the proceedings to date.

4. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial and trial.

5. The relief sought.

6. The party's position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history of past settlement discussions, offers and demands.

IT IS SO ORDERED.