S.D. Ill. SDIL-LR 16.3

(See 28 U.S.C. § 651, et seq.)

(a) Mediation Program

The Court has adopted a Mediation Plan (“Plan”), included as Appendix C

to these Local Rules. Pursuant to the Plan, all non-exempt civil cases are

automatically referred into the Court’s Mediation Program. The Plan, a list

of Court-approved mediators, and additional mediation materials are

available on the Court’s website.

(b) Judicial Settlement Conference

(1) The Court may, sua sponte or upon motion of any party, set a

judicial settlement conference at any time during the litigation.

Absent exceptional circumstances, judicial settlement conferences

will not be set in cases that have been referred into the Court’s

Mediation Program.

(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, in addition to the lead

counsel for each party, a representative of each party or the party’s

insurance company with authority to bind that party for settlement

purposes shall be present.

(3) The notice of the settlement conference shall set forth the format of

the conference, any requirement for information that must be

submitted to the presiding judicial officer prior to the conference,

and the types of documents or other information that must be

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brought to the conference.

(4) The statements or other communications made by any of the parties

or their representatives in connection with the settlement

conference shall remain confidential and shall not be admissible or

used in any fashion in the trial of the case or any related case.

(c) Other Methods of Dispute Resolution

The Court may, in its discretion, set any civil case for summary jury trial or

other alternative method of dispute resolution which the Court may deem

proper.