G. Heilman Brewing Co. v. Joseph Oat Corp.
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
871 F.2d 648 (7th Cir. 1989)
Relevant factsFree
A federal magistrate ordered Joseph Oat Corp. (defendant) to send a corporate representative with settlement authority to a pretrial conference; only Oat's outside counsel appeared, prompting the district court to sanction Oat under Rule 16(f) by requiring it to cover Heilman's (plaintiff) attendance costs and fees. Oat appealed, arguing courts cannot coerce settlement and that it had made clear it wouldn't agree to pay any money to settle.
IssueFree
Whether a federal district court can order litigants who are represented by counsel to appear in person at a pretrial conference for the purpose of discussing settlement.