IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT  FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND  (SOUTHERN DIVISION)  )  Jason Putsche,  )  )  Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant  )  )  v.  )  Civil Case No. DLB 17-0255  )  Alley Cat Allies, Inc.,  )  )  Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff  )  Third Party Plaintiff    )  )  v.  )  Elizabeth Putsche,et al.,  )  )  Third Party Defendants  )  )  REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS  Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 301.5(b), the Honorable Paul W. Grimm  referred this matter to me to conduct an evidentiary hearing and to ultimately issue a Report and  Recommendations. (ECF No. 160).1 The referral followed the filing of a motion for partial  summary judgment by Alley Cat Allies, Inc., the filing of an opposition related thereto and a cross  motion for summary judgment by Jason Putsche, Elizabeth Putsche, and Jason Putsche  Photography, and the filing of reply briefing. (SeeECF Nos. 144, 150, 154, 157). The district  judge held that the pleadings revealed a dispute as to the existence or validity of a settlement  agreement between the parties.2 Accordingly, the district court denied both summary judgment  1  This case was reassigned to the Honorable Deborah L. Boardman following Judge Grimm’s retirement.  2  For purposes of this Report and Recommendations, I will refer to the litigants as “the parties” or, to the extent  necessary, I will mention them by name.  Case 8:17-cv-00255-DLB Document 192 Filed 03/13/23 Page 1 of 46