Payne v. State of California et al

Filing 133

1st Amended ORDER re SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE. Order signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 9/15/2022. The Pre-Settlement Conference is NOW set for 1/11/2023 at 04:00 PM in Courtroom 7 (SKO) before Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto. (Kusamura, W)

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1 2 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Coleman Payne Plaintiff, v. Case No. 1:17-cv-00906-ADA SKO 1st Amended ORDER re SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant. _____________________________________/ 14 This case is set for a Settlement Conference before Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 15 January 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California, 16 93721. 17 18 Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires thorough preparation prior to the settlement conference. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 19 1. 20 A settlement conference is more likely to be productive if, before the conference, the Pre-settlement Conference Exchange of Demand and Offer 21 parties exchange written settlement proposals. Accordingly, at least 5 weeks prior to the 22 settlement conference, counsel for each plaintiff shall submit an updated written itemization of 23 damages and settlement demand to each defense counsel with a brief summary of the legal and 24 25 26 27 28 factual basis supporting the demand. No later than 4 weeks prior to the settlement conference, each defense counsel shall submit a written offer to counsel for each plaintiff with a brief summary of the legal and factual basis supporting the offer. 2. Submission and Content of Confidential Settlement Conference Statements 1 The parties are to send Confidential Settlement Conference Statements (Settlement 2 Statement) to the following email address: SKOorders@caed.uscourts.gov, to arrive no later than 3 14 days before the conference. Each statement shall be clearly marked “CONFIDENTIAL” with 4 the date and time of the mandatory settlement conference indicated prominently. Each party shall 5 also file a Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement (See L.R. 270 6 (d)). 7 If the Settlement Conference is continued for any reason, each party must submit a new 8 Settlement Statement that is complete in itself, without reference to any prior Settlement 9 Statements. 10 Each Settlement Statement shall include the following: 11 a. A brief summary of the core facts, allegations, and defenses, a forthright 12 evaluation of the parties’ likelihood of prevailing on the claims and 13 defenses, and a description of the major issues in dispute. 14 b. A summary of the proceedings to date. 15 c. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, 16 pretrial, and trial. 17 d. The nature of the relief sought. 18 e. An outline of past settlement efforts including information regarding the 19 "Pre-settlement Conference Exchange of Demand and Offer" required 20 above—including the itemization of damages—and a history of past 21 settlement discussions, offers, and demands. 22 f. 23 Conference. 24 3. 25 26 A statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the Settlement Attendance of Trial Counsel and Parties Required The attorneys who will try the case and parties with full and complete settlement authority are required to personally attend the conference.1 An insured party shall appear by a representative 27 28 1 Insurance carriers, business organizations, and governmental bodies or agencies whose settlement agreements are subject to approval by legislative bodies, executive committees, boards of directors or the like shall be represented by 2   1 of the insurer who is authorized to negotiate, and who has full authority to negotiate and settle the 2 case. An uninsured corporate party shall appear by a representative authorized to negotiate, and 3 who has full authority to negotiate and settle the case. It is difficult for a party who is not present 4 to appreciate the process and the reasons that may justify a change in one’s perspective toward 5 settlement. Accordingly, having a client with authority available by telephone is not an acceptable 6 alternative, except under the most extenuating circumstances.2 7 In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the resulting courthouse restrictions, 8 see General Orders Nos. 612–618, the Court will revisit the in-person requirement closer to the date 9 of the settlement conference and reserves the right to modify the requirement depending upon the 10 courthouse restrictions, if any, in place as of January 19, 2023. The parties are advised that while 11 the courthouse restrictions pursuant to General Order No. 618 are in place, Zoom videoconference 12 settlement conferences are available. At the January 11, 2023, Pre-Settlement Conference, (see 13 paragraph 6 below), the parties should be prepared to discuss the method of conducting the 14 settlement conference and whether the settlement conference should proceed on January 19, 2023. 15 If the parties opt to conduct the settlement conference by Zoom videoconference, the Court will 16 provide the call-in information closer to the time of the settlement conference. 17 18 19 The Court expects both the lawyers and the party representatives to be fully prepared to participate. The Court encourages all parties to keep an open mind in order to reassess their previous positions and to discover creative means for resolving the dispute. 20 4. 21 Issues to Be Discussed The parties shall be prepared to discuss the following at the settlement conference: 22 a. 23 Goals in the litigation and problems they would like to address in the settlement conference and understanding of the opposing side’s goals. 24 25 b. The issues (in and outside the lawsuit) that need to be resolved. c. The strengths and weaknesses of their case. 26 27 28 a person or persons who occupy high executive positions in the party organization and who will be directly involved in the process of approval of any settlement offers or agreements. 2 Out of town or out of state travel and the purchase of an airplane ticket are not extenuating circumstances. 3   1 d. Their understanding of the opposing side’s view of the case. 2 e. Their points of agreement and disagreement (factual and legal). 3 f. Any financial, emotional, and/or legal impediments to settlement. 4 g. Whether settlement or further litigation better enables the accomplishment 5 of their respective goals. 6 h. Any possibilities for a creative resolution of the dispute. 7 5. 8 The parties are expected to address each other with courtesy and respect, and are 9 encouraged to be frank and open in their discussions. Statements made by any party during the 10 Statements Inadmissible settlement conference are not to be used in discovery and will not be admissible at trial. 11 6. 12 Prior to the Settlement Conference, Magistrate Judge Oberto will hold a brief, Pre-Settlement Telephonic Conference 13 telephonic discussion on January 11, 2023, at 4:00 PM (dial-in number: 1-888-557-8511; 14 passcode: 6208204#). Only attorneys and unrepresented parties are required to participate in the 15 conference. 16 17 18 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: /s/ Sheila K. Oberto September 15, 2022 . UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4  

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