Special Masters/Magistrates are adjuncts of the court, who under court authority and appointment are assigned to perform specific tasks. The court utilizes the master/magistrate to conduct pre-trial discovery and proceedings to issue preliminary rulings, recommendations, findings, and reports. The support may be ongoing until the final disposition of the case. The master/magistrate may also aid the court in supervising class action notices and the monitoring of settlement and judgement compliance. The functions of the master/magistrate may include administering the distribution of proceeds from a settlement or judgement, concluding findings of fact and making recommendations regarding real property, disposing of real or personal property (court ordered), supervising the winding down of business entities, calculating attorney’s fees or damages, determining insurance coverages, and managing the settlements of complex cases.