Lockhart v. Patel

OPINION

BERTELSMAN, District Judge:

Unfortunately, the court finds it necessary in this case to discuss the question of its authority to order parties and their insurers to attend settlement conferences. Also involved is the propriety of sanctions for failure to attend.

This is a medical malpractice action in which the plaintiff, a teenager, lost the sight of one eye, allegedly due to the defendant doctor’s negligence. In a summary jury trial an advisory jury awarded the plaintiff $200,000.1

Following the summary jury trial, the court held several formal and informal pretrial and settlement…