Rule 12.1 - Civil Settlement ConferenceA settlement conference may be ordered by the court at any time before trial. Any party may also file a request for settlement conference at any time prior to trial. A settlement conference in civil cases shall be subject to the following guidelines:
(1) If a party settles or otherwise disposes of any action prior to a scheduled settlement conference, the party shall immediately notify the court;(2) Each party to the action shall attend the conference or be represented by an attorney or other representative who has authority to settle the case;(3) For each party represented by counsel an attorney who is assigned to try the case shall attend the settlement conference. It is expected that the attorney will have become familiar with all aspects of the case prior to the conferences;(4) Each party to the action shall have thoroughly evaluated the case and shall have discussed and attempted to negotiate a settlement through an exchange of written bona fide and reasonable offers of settlement prior to the conference;(5) The judge conducting the settlement conference may, at the conclusion of said conference, continue said conference to another time and date, and from time to time thereafter for continued settlement negotiations if the judge has reason to believe a settlement can thereby be effectuated;(6) Sanctions. The failure of a party or the party's attorney to appear at a scheduled settlement conference, the neglect of a party or the party's attorney to discuss or attempt to negotiate a settlement prior to the conference, or the failure of a party to have a person authorized to settle the case present at the conference shall, unless a good cause for such failure or neglect is shown, be deemed an undue interference with orderly procedures. As sanctions, the court may, in its discretion: (i) Dismiss the action on its own motion, or on the motion of any party or hold a party in default, as the case may be; (ii) Order a party to pay the opposing party's reasonable expenses and attorneys' fees; (iv) Impose any other sanction as may be appropriate.Added February 8, 1996, effective 4/1/1996.