Chavez v. Kings County et al

Filing 55

ORDER SETTING Settlement Conference signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 5/3/2016. Settlement Conference set for 9/8/2016 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 6 (MJS) before Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng. (Sant Agata, S)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JUAN CHAVEZ,

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1:13-cv-00342-SKO (PC)
Plaintiff,

v.

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT
CONFERENCE

KINGS COUNTY, et al.,
(Docs. 44, 49, 54)

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Defendants.

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Plaintiff, Juan Chavez, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this

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civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On March 18, 2016, the court ordered parties to

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advise the court whether a settlement conference would be beneficial. (Doc. 44.) Parties have

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responded that they believe a settlement conference would be beneficial in this case. (Doc. 49 &

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54.) Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng to conduct a

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settlement conference at the U. S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California 93721 in

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Courtroom #6 on September 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

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A separate order and writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum will issue closer to the date
of the settlement conference.

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In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1. A settlement conference has been set for September 8, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in

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Courtroom #6 before Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng at the U. S. District Court,
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2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California 93721.

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2. Defendants’ lead counsel and a person with full and unlimited authority to negotiate

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and enter into a binding settlement on defendants’ behalf shall attend in person1.

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3. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages.

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The failure of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear in

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person may result in the imposition of sanctions. In addition, the conference will not

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proceed and will be reset to another date.
4. Parties are directed to submit confidential settlement statements no later than

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September 1, 2016 to [e-mail]. Plaintiff shall mail his

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confidential settlement statement to Sujean Park, ADR & Pro Bono Program Director,

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USDC CAED, 501 I Street, Suite 4-200, Sacramento, California 95814 so it arrives no

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later than September 1, 2016. The envelope shall be marked “Confidential Settlement

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Statement.” If a party desires to share additional confidential information with the

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Court, they may do so pursuant to the provisions of Local Rule 270(d) and (e). Parties

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are also directed to file a “Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Statement”

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(See L.R. 270(d)).

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Settlement statements should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor served on

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any other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly marked “confidential” with

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the date and time of the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.

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While the exercise of its authority is subject to abuse of discretion review, “the district court has the
authority to order parties, including the federal government, to participate in mandatory settlement
conferences… .” United States v. United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, 694 F.3d 1051,
1053, 1057, 1059 (9th Cir. 2012)(“the district court has broad authority to compel participation in mandatory
settlement conference[s].”). The term “full authority to settle” means that the individuals attending the
mediation conference must be authorized to fully explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any
settlement terms acceptable to the parties. G. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648,
653 (7th Cir. 1989), cited with approval in Official Airline Guides, Inc. v. Goss, 6 F.3d 1385, 1396 (9th Cir. 1993).
The individual with full authority to settle must also have “unfettered discretion and authority” to change the
settlement position of the party, if appropriate. Pitman v. Brinker Int’l., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-86 (D. Ariz.
2003), amended on recon. in part, Pitman v. Brinker Int’l., Inc., 2003 WL 23353478 (D. Ariz. 2003). The
purpose behind requiring the attendance of a person with full settlement authority is that the parties’ view of
the case may be altered during the face to face conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. at 486. An authorization to
settle for a limited dollar amount or sum certain can be found not to comply with the requirement of full
authority to settle. Nick v. Morgan’s Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 596-97 (8th Cir. 2001).
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The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length,

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typed or neatly printed, and include the following:

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a. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

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b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon

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which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties’ likelihood of

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prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in

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dispute.
c. A summary of the proceedings to date.

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d. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, and

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trial.

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e. The relief sought.

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f. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a
history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands.

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g. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement

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conference.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

May 3, 2016

/s/ Sheila K. Oberto
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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