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for a pretrial conference on October 26, 1995, in Washington,
D.C. At that conference, the Court was informed that the trial
in those cases would take approximately 3-1/2 weeks. The
parties’ pretrial memoranda set forth more than 70 issues;
respondent, alone, listed 60 witnesses. Thousands of hours had
gone into trial preparation. The Court conducted a lengthy
discussion of the issues to be tried, and the Court determined
that both the Court and the parties would benefit if, before
commencing trial, the parties could discuss their differences
with an impartial third party, who might suggest a basis for
settlement of some or all of the items in issue. Accordingly, by
order dated October 27, 1995, the Court continued the cases for
trial from October 30, 1995, to November 8, 1995. The parties
were directed to meet with Chief Special Trial Judge Peter J.
Panuthos to discuss their differences and determine whether any
or all of the items in issue might be disposed of by settlement.
A meeting with Chief Special Trial Judge Panuthos commenced
on November 2, 1995, in Washington, D.C. Respondent was
represented by attorney William Garofalo (Garofalo). Dorchester
and the Wheatons were represented by attorneys William Gilson
(Gilson) and Gary Wodlinger (Wodlinger). Neither Frank nor Mary
Wheaton attended the meeting, although Frank Wheaton was present
in Washington, D.C. On the evening of November 2, 1995, after
their initial meeting with Chief Special Trial Judge Panuthos,
Gilson and Wodlinger met with Frank Wheaton at his hotel in
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