Heinle et al v. Agricultural Risk Consulting Group, LLC, The et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NORTH DAKOTA
Justin Heinle; Kevin W. Johnson; Joshua D. 	)
Johnson; Scott Mattis; Garret R. Swindler; 	)
Blake Ulrich; Terry M. Miller; Estate of 	)
Mitch B. Miller, Terry M. Miller, Personal 	)
Representative; Stan Blickensderfer; Scott & 	) 	ORDER SCHEDULING SETTLEMENT
Heather Katus; Messer Beaver Creek Ranch 	) 	CONFERENCE
G.P.; Loenard Kaufman; Fried Farm & Ranch 	)
LLC; Donna and Devon Laufer; Brandon and 	)
Lacy Schatz; and Christopher Carlson 	)
)
Plaintiffs, 	)
)
vs. 	)
) Case No. 1:22-cv-042
The Agricultural Risk Consulting Group, 	)
LLC, d/b/a The A.R.C. Group, LLC; and 	)
Justin Lovegrove, 	)
)
Defendants. 	)
______________________________________________________________________________
IT IS ORDERED:
A settlement conference will be held before the magistrate judge on August 27, 2026, at 9:00
AM at the U.S. Courthouse located in Bismarck, North Dakota (courtroom 2).
The conference shall be attended, in-person or virtually, by all parties, together with trial
counsel (if they are represented) for each party. At least one person for each party shall appear in
person to facilitate the virtual appearance by others. Requests for relief from this requirement must
be made in advance.
An insured party need not attend unless the settlement decision will be made in part by the
insured. When the settlement decision will be made in whole or in part by an insurer, the insurer
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shall attend. The persons attending shall be vested with the necessary settlement authority. Any
relief from these requirements must be obtained in advance. Failure to attend the conference as
provided may result in an award of costs, fees, and/or other sanctions.
Each party shall submit a concise confidential settlement statement to the Court at least two
days prior to the final settlement conference. The settlement statement shall not become a part of the
file of the case, but shall be for the exclusive use of the Court in preparing for and conducting the
settlement conference.
The settlement statement should contain a concise recitation of the facts, a discussion of the
strengths and weaknesses of the case, the parties' positions on settlement, including a present
settlement proposal, and a report on settlement efforts to date. 	Exhibits may be attached to the
settlement statement. The parties are directed to be candid in their statements.
The parties shall submit their settlement statement to the court via e-mail 	(ndd_J-
Hochhalter@ndd.uscourts.gov),or mail (P.O. Box 670, Bismarck, North Dakota 58502-0670) for
delivery at least two (2) days prior to the settlement conference. The settlement statement shall not
be filed with the Clerk's office. Copies of the settlement statement shall not be provided to the other
parties in the case.
Counsel are directed to confer with their clients in advance of the conference to explore the
parties’ settlement positions, and the parties are encouraged to exchange settlement proposals prior
to the conference. These steps will enable the conference to progress more expeditiously.
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Dated this 15th day of July, 2026.
/s/ Clare R. Hochhalter
Clare R. Hochhalter, Magistrate Judge
United States District Court
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