Settlement Conferences: Upon request of all parties, the Court will refer the case to the assigned magistrate judge for a settlement conference. Parties who desire a settlement conference with the magistrate judge may request one in open court or by contacting the assigned courtroom deputy.  If Judge Hunt conducts the settlement conference, the parties will be required to convene in the courtroom with individual clients (and principals of institutional clients) present in person.

Settlement Dismissal Orders: Before submitting a stipulation of dismissal, counsel should review Seventh Circuit case law regarding the retention of federal jurisdiction to enforce the terms of a settlement agreement. In general, Seventh Circuit decisions hold that dismissals “with prejudice” leave the Court without jurisdiction to enforce a settlement agreement. Accordingly, in most cases, the parties would be well advised to request an order that either (a) provides for dismissal with prejudice if the settlement terms have already been fulfilled (e.g., payment has been made), but make no reference to retention of jurisdiction; or (b) provides for the case to be “dismissed without prejudice with leave to reinstate on or before [date far enough in the future to fulfill all settlement terms]. Thereafter, the case shall be deemed, without further order of the Court, to be dismissed with prejudice.”