Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit June 14, 2001, 00-1101, 00-1505 (Rosemary Higbee v. Sentry Insurance Company)

TERENCE T. EVANS, Circuit Judge.

The district courts in this circuit have crowded dockets, and the judges presiding over those courts work very hard to keep their heads above water. To that end, district judges are wise to encourage settlements and to poke and prod reluctant parties to compromise, especially when their differences are not great and/or their claims or defenses are not airtight.