Settlement_conference

A settlement conference is a meeting between opposing sides of a lawsuit at which the parties attempt to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of their dispute without having to proceed to a trial. Such a conference may be initiated through either party, usually by the conveyance of a settlement offer; or it may be ordered by the court as a precedent (preliminary step) to holding a trial. Each party, the plaintiff and the defendant, is usually represented at the settlement conference by their own Counsel or attorney.

Case conference

In many courts in the common law system, a case conference may be used to settle a case.

In some courts, the rules require that before certain types of motions or petitions will be heard by the judge, the lawyers must "meet and confer" to try to resolve the matter. Legal dictionary article on "Meet and confer"

Consequences

Matters discussed in a settlement conference are confidential, and cannot be introduced as evidence in court. All such information would be considered privileged or hearsay.

References

See also

• Allocation questionnaire for the paperwork used to set up the settlement conference for small claims matters in England
• In open court

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