Participants and Settlement Authority

(a) At least one attorney for each party who is a member of the bar of this court shall appear at the settlement conference, except in the case of attorneys admitted to practice in such cases under Local Rule 83.8.2.1, .2, .3, or .4. Any party appearing in a case pro se shall attend the settlement conference. At least one attorney for each party who is fully familiar with the case and has complete authority to settle the case shall appear for each party. If any attorney does not have complete settlement authority, the party or a person with full settlement authority shall accompany the attorney or shall be available by telephone.

Parties may be required to attend and participate during the settlement session at the discretion of the settlement officer. (b) No proceeding at any settlement conference authorized by this rule (including any statement made or written submissions provided by a party, attorney, or other participant) shall be disclosed to any person not involved in the settlement conference, unless otherwise stipulated in writing by all parties and the settlement officer. None of the proceedings shall be used by any adverse party for any reason in the litigation at issue.