Following a settlement conference in a civil action, the court addressed the readiness of the matter for trial and concerns about the refusal of a non-party insurer to participate in settlement negotiations.
The court observed that the insurer’s absence from negotiations created a significant impediment to resolution and left the plaintiffs facing trial risks and costs.
The judge strongly urged the insurer to participate in negotiations and warned that cost sanctions might apply if it failed to do so.
The matter was confirmed as ready for trial with two weeks of trial time required.
