throbber
Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 1 of 7 PageID #: 2385
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
`
`::
`
`::
`
`: C. A. No. 19-1410-MN
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`:
`
`::
`
`:
`
`VB ASSETS, LLC,
`
`v.
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`AMAZON.COM, INC., AMAZON.COM
`LLC, AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC.,
`A2Z DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC.,
`D/B/A LAB126, RAWLES LLC, AMZN
`MOBILE LLC, AMZN MOBILE 2 LLC,
`AMAZON.COM SERVICES, INC. F/K/A
`AMAZON FULFILLMENT SERVICES,
`INC, and AMAZON DIGITAL SERVICES
`LLC,
`
`Defendants.
`
`ORDER GOVERNING IN-PERSON OR VIDEO CONFERENCE
`MEDIATION AND MEDIATION STATEMENTS
`
`THIS ORDER CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD
`BE READ BY COUNSEL PRIOR TO PREPARATION OF A MEDIATION
`STATEMENT.
`
`At Wilmington this 3rd day of January, 2022.
`
`IT IS ORDERED that:
`
`MEDIATION CONFERENCE
`
`1.
`
`An in-person mediation conference is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022
`
`beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. All required participants (see ¶ 2) are to report at
`
`this time to Courtroom 2B and are to remain available until excused by the Court. Dress
`
`for the mediation is business casual. It is counsel’s responsibility to notify Judge Thynge
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 2 of 7 PageID #: 2386
`
`by email, with a copy to the Judge’s law clerk, Daniel Taylor, should the matter settle prior
`
`to the mediation date.
`
`(a)
`
`For any authorized email communications between Chief Magistrate
`
`Judge Thynge and counsel/parties, Judge Thynge’s
`
`law clerk, Daniel Taylor
`
`(daniel_taylor@ded.uscourts.gov), shall be copied.
`
`(b)
`
`Should the mediation be cancelled, counsel shall advise the Judge and
`
`her law clerk via joint email prior to Thursday, April 21, 2022.
`
`(c)
`
`Should counsel and their clients wish to proceed in a video/virtual
`
`format, counsel shall advise the Judge and her law clerk on or before Thursday, April 28,
`
`2022 at 5:00 p.m. in a single, joint email. Counsel shall determine who will be responsible
`
`for sending this joint email.
`
`(d)
`
`Should the mediation be converted to a video/virtual format, the
`
`logistics for video/virtual mediation shall be as follows: unless counsel otherwise agree,
`
`Plaintiff shall arrange for a video conference link for a joint discussion line for the Judge and
`
`all counsel to use during the mediation session. This link should be available throughout
`
`the mediation session should the Judge wish to have discussions with all counsel/parties.
`
`Plaintiff shall also arrange for a separate video conference link for private discussions with
`
`the Judge throughout the mediation session. Defendants shall arrange for a separate video
`
`conference link for private discussions with the Judge throughout the mediation session.
`
`Counsel for Plaintiff shall provide by email to the Judge, with a copy to her law clerk, Daniel
`
`Taylor, the Joint video conference link and Plaintiff’s video conference link no later than
`
`and no earlier than Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Counsel for
`
`2
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 3 of 7 PageID #: 2387
`
`Defendants shall provide by email to the Judge, with a copy to her law clerk, Daniel Taylor,
`
`the defense video conference link no later than and no earlier than Tuesday, May 10,
`
`2022 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. These emails shall include the links, along with
`
`instructions on how to join the video conference for each conference line. If easier or more
`
`convenient for counsel, the virtual information may be included in a single email.
`
`Any platform/service, e.g., Zoom, Team Speak, Skype, Trial Graphix may be
`
`used.
`
`REQUIRED PARTICIPANTS
`
`2.
`
`Each party must be represented at the mediation teleconference by the
`
`following required participants: (a) trial counsel; (b) counsel who is/are familiar with the
`
`case; and (c) the party/parties and/or decisionmaker(s) of the parties, who must have full
`
`authority to act on behalf of the parties, including the authority to negotiate a resolution of
`
`the matter and to respond to developments during the mediation process. Full authority
`
`means that those participants on behalf of a party should be able to make independent
`
`decisions and have a knowledge or understanding of the dispute and/or the business
`
`objectives/operations of their company to generate and consider solutions and/or to be able
`
`to address the negotiation dynamics in mediation. It is not just settlement authority, that
`
`is, to make an offer or to accept an amount.
`
`Attendance at the mediation conference by those participants described herein is
`
`required unless otherwise authorized by the Court. Any request to modify this requirement
`
`shall be made in writing to the Chief Magistrate Judge, with a copy to all counsel, no later
`
`than fourteen (14) days before the mediation conference.
`
`3
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 4 of 7 PageID #: 2388
`
`CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REQUIRED PARTICIPANTS
`
`3.
`
`(a)
`
`No later than the date on which mediation statements are due (see
`
`¶ 4 below), counsel shall email to the court in a writing separate from the mediation
`
`statement for each attorney who will be participating in the mediation teleconference: (i) a
`
`direct dial telephone work number, (ii) a cell or home telephone number, and (iii) an
`
`electronic mail address where the attorney can be regularly reached.
`
`EXCHANGE OF LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING MEDIATION
`
`(b)
`
`No later than the date on which the mediation statements are due
`
`(see ¶ 4 below), counsel shall submit a list of all participants, including attorney and non-
`
`attorney representatives, who will be attending the mediation on behalf of their party, to the
`
`opposing party or parties.
`
`CONFIDENTIAL MEDIATION STATEMENTS
`
`4.
`
`On or before Thursday, April 28, 2022 by no later than 3:30 p.m., AN
`
`ORIGINAL and ONE COPY of a confidential mediation statement containing all of the
`
`information required by ¶ 6 shall be submitted ONLY to the Chief Magistrate Judge. The
`
`mediation statements shall not be filed with the Clerk's Office, nor emailed to Chambers,
`
`but shall be delivered to the Clerk’s Office in an envelope addressed to Chief U. S.
`
`Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge and marked “CONFIDENTIAL MEDIATION
`
`STATEMENT.” The statements shall not be exchanged among the parties or counsel
`
`(unless the parties so desire), shall not be provided to the trial judge, and shall not become
`
`part of the record in this matter. Mediation statements shall NOT be electronically filed
`
`since they are not part of the Court record.
`
`4
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 5 of 7 PageID #: 2389
`
`5.
`
`The mediation statements may be in memorandum or letter form. They must
`
`be double-spaced, single-sided, in no less than a 12-point font, and no longer than twenty
`
`(20) pages. PAGES MUST BE NUMBERED.
`
`6.
`
`Unless otherwise ordered, the mediation statements must contain each of
`
`the following headings and must contain a discussion of each of the topics described
`
`below:
`
`(a)
`
`“The Parties”: provide a description of who the parties are, their
`
`relationship, if any, to each other, and by whom each party is represented, including the
`
`identity of all individuals who will be participating on behalf of a party during the mediation
`
`conference.
`
`(b)
`
`“Factual Background”: provide a brief factual background, clearly
`
`indicating which material facts are not in dispute and which material facts remain in dispute.
`
`(c)
`
`“Summary of Applicable Law”: provide a brief summary of the law,
`
`including applicable statutes, cases and standards. Copies of any unreported decisions
`
`(including decisions from this jurisdiction) that counsel believes are particularly relevant
`
`should be included as exhibits (see ¶ 7).
`
`(d)
`
`“Honest Discussion of Strengths and Weaknesses”: provide an
`
`honest discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the party's claims and/or defenses.
`
`(e)
`
`“Settlement Efforts”: provide a brief description of prior settlement
`
`negotiations and discussions, including the most recent offers or demands exchanged
`
`between the parties and the reasons for rejection, and the party's assessment as to why
`
`settlement has not been reached.
`
`5
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 6 of 7 PageID #: 2390
`
`(f)
`
`“Settlement Proposal”: describe the party's proposed term(s) for a
`
`resolution, including the rationale for the term(s). Identify the essential terms for
`
`settlement, if any, and discuss terms that cannot be comprised with a brief explanation as
`
`to why. Identify any interests or issues not directly involved in this matter that may
`
`frustrate or further settlement. If the party has any suggestions as to how the Court may
`
`be helpful in reaching a resolution, such suggestions should also be described.
`
`(g)
`
`“Fees and Costs”: list separately each of the following: (i) attorneys’
`
`fees and costs incurred to date; (ii) other fees and costs incurred to date; (iii) good faith
`
`estimate of additional attorneys’ fees and costs to be incurred if this matter is not settled;
`
`and (iv) good faith estimate of additional other fees and costs to be incurred if this matter
`
`is not settled.
`
`In addition to the required topics described above, and provided that the mediation
`
`statement complies with the page limit stated above, counsel are encouraged to address
`
`any other matter they believe may be of assistance to the Court.
`
`7.
`
`Crucial or pertinent documents may be submitted as exhibits to the mediation
`
`statement. Exhibits shall also be single-sided only and must be tabbed.
`
`CONFIDENTIALITY
`
`8.
`
`The contents of the mediation statements and the mediation
`
`teleconference discussions, including any resolution or settlement, shall remain
`
`confidential, shall not be used in the present litigation nor any other litigation
`
`(whether presently pending or filed in the future), and shall not be construed as nor
`
`constitute an admission. Breach of this provision shall subject the violator to
`
`6
`
`

`

`Case 1:19-cv-01410-MN Document 107 Filed 01/03/22 Page 7 of 7 PageID #: 2391
`
`sanctions.
`
`EX PARTE CONTACTS
`
`9.
`
`Before, during, and after the scheduled in-person or virtual mediation
`
`conference, the Court may find it necessary and useful to communicate with one or more
`
`parties outside the presence of the other party or parties.
`
`OBLIGATION OF GOOD FAITH PARTICIPATION
`
`10.
`
`The required participants shall be available and accessible throughout the
`
`mediation process. The parties' full and good faith cooperation with the mediation process
`
`is required. In particular, both the lawyers and the party representatives are expected to
`
`be fully prepared to participate. All participants are encouraged to keep an open mind in
`
`order to reassess their previous positions and to find creative means for resolving the
`
`dispute.
`
`AVOIDANCE OF SANCTIONS
`
`11.
`
`All counsel are reminded of their obligations to read and comply with
`
`this Order. Delaware counsel are reminded of their obligations to inform out-of-state
`
`counsel of this Order. To avoid the imposition of sanctions, counsel shall advise the Court
`
`immediately of any problems regarding compliance with this Order.
`
`/s/ Mary Pat Thynge
`Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge
`
`7
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket