Applegate v. CCI, et al.

Filing 25

ORDER SETTING Settlement Conference, signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 5/10/17. Settlement Conference set for 7/7/2017 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 9 (SAB) before Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone.(Marrujo, C)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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BRIAN APPLEGATE,

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Plaintiff,
v.

Case No.: 1:16-cv-01343-DAD-MJS (PC)
ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT
CONFERENCE

CCI, et al.,
Defendants.

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Plaintiff Brian Applegate is a state prisoner appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in

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this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Court has determined that this case

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will benefit from a settlement conference. Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate

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Judge Stanley A. Boone to conduct a settlement conference at the U.S. District Court, 2500

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Tulare Street, Fresno, California 93721 in Courtroom #9 on July 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Due

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to Plaintiff’s ongoing medical treatment, the Court will require that he be transported

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from Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”) to the courthouse for the settlement

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conference, and returned to SVSP on the same date.

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A separate order and writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum will issue separately
approximately one month prior to the conference.

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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 Stanley A.
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Boone on July 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the U. S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street,

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Fresno, California 93721 in Courtroom #9.
2. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a

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binding settlement shall attend in person.1

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

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damages. The failure of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this

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order to appear in person may result in the imposition of sanctions. In addition, the

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conference will not proceed and will be reset to another date.
4. Defendants shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email

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address: [e-mail].

Plaintiff shall mail his confidential

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settlement statement to U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California,

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93721, “Attention: Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone.” The envelope shall be

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marked “Confidential Settlement Statement”. Settlement statements shall arrive

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no later than June 30, 2017. Parties shall also file a Notice of Submission of

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Confidential Settlement Statement (See Local Rule 270(d)).

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

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other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly marked Aconfidential@ with the

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date and time of the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.

Settlement

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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, 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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5. The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in
length, 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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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,

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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, including how much a party is willing to accept and/or willing to

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pay.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated:

May 10, 2017

/s/

Michael J. Seng

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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