Keller v. N.K.S.P.

Filing 57

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 7/6/2017 setting Settlement Conference for 10/27/2017 at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 6 (MJS) before Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng. (Lundstrom, T)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JOHN KELLER,

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CASE NO. 1:16-cv-00613-AWI-EPG (PC)
Plaintiff,

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v.

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N.K.S.P., et al.,

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ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT
CONFERENCE
Defendants.

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Plaintiff is a prisoner appearing with counsel and in forma pauperis in this civil rights

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action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The court has determined that this case will benefit from a

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settlement conference. Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng

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to conduct a settlement conference at the U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno,

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California 93721 in Courtroom #6 on October 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

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A separate order and writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum will issue concurrently with
this order.

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

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1. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng

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on October 27, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the U. S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street,

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Fresno, California 93721 in Courtroom #6.

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2. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding
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settlement shall attend in person.1

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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.

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4. Each party shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email

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address: [e-mail]. Settlement statements shall arrive no later

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than October 20, 2017. Parties shall also file a Notice of Submission of Confidential

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Settlement Conference Statement (See Local Rule 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 Aconfidential@ with

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

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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

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upon which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties=

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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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likelihood of prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the

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major issues in dispute.

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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 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:

July 6, 2017

/s/
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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