Carlos Suarez v. BMW of North America, LLC

I.

BACKGROUND

On June 17, 2019, the District Judge referred the action to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for a settlement conference. Dkt. 50.

On July 2, 2019, the Court issued an Order setting the settlement conference for July 10, 2019. Dkt. 52. The Order explains, “The purpose of the Settlement Conference is to permit an informal discussion between the attorneys, parties, non-party indemnitors or insurers, and the settlement judge, of every aspect of the case bearing on its settlement value.” Id. at ¶ 1. Therefore, the Order requires lead trial counsel to be present with their client, “whether or not counsel purportedly have been given settlement authority,” and states “counsel appearing without their clients . . . will cause the settlement conference to be cancelled and rescheduled.” Id. at ¶¶ 3-4. The Order further provides that any failure to “comply strictly with this Order, may result in the Settlement Conference being ordered off calendar and sanctions being imposed.” Id. at ¶ 8. In addition, the Court’s Procedures, available on the Court’s website, make clear “[i]t is the responsibility of the parties to obtain the services of an interpreter…