Torres v. Patel et al

Filing 30

ORDER Referring Case to Post-Screening ADR and STAYING Case for 100 Days, signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 3/5/2019: Settlement Conference set for 6/6/2019 at 09:30 AM in Courtroom 8 (BAM) before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe. (Hellings, J)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MIGUEL TORRES, 12 13 14 15 Plaintiff, v. ISMAIL PATEL, et al., Defendants. 16 17 18 19 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No.: 1:18-cv-00188-LJO-SAB (PC) ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE FOR 100 DAYS Date: June 6, 2019 Time: 9:30 a.m. Place: Courtroom 8 (BAM) Before the Honorable Barbara A. McAuliffe Plaintiff Miguel Torres is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Because it takes years to get to trial, the Court has identified this case as an appropriate case 20 for post-screening ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), which is an effort to resolve such cases 21 more expeditiously and less expensively. No claims, defenses, or objections shall be waived by the 22 parties’ participation. In appropriate cases, defense counsel from the California State Attorney 23 General’s Office has agreed to participate in these early settlements. 24 As set forth in the screening order, Plaintiff has stated a cognizable civil rights claim. But, 25 stating a cognizable claim does not mean that Plaintiff will prevail at trial. Thus, the Court stays this 26 action for a period of 100 days to allow the parties to investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and confer, 27 and then participate in a settlement conference. 28 1 1 Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe to conduct a 2 settlement conference at United States Courthouse in Fresno, California on June 6, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. 3 The Court will issue the necessary transportation order in due course. 4 In issuing this order, there is a presumption that this case will proceed to a settlement 5 conference. However, if after investigating Plaintiff’s claims and speaking with Plaintiff, and after 6 conferring with others, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference would be a 7 waste of resources, defense counsel may move to opt out of this early settlement conference. A 8 written notice to opt out must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of the issuance of this order. 9 The parties shall each submit to Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe a confidential 10 settlement conference statement, as described below, to arrive at least seven days (one week) prior to 11 the conference. 12 The Court puts the parties on notice that if Plaintiff has any outstanding criminal restitution 13 obligation, fines and/or penalties, these settlement negotiations shall not be geared towards what the 14 restitution obligation is, but what the value the of the case itself is to each side, irrespective of any 15 outstanding restitution obligation. 16 In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 17 1. This action is STAYED for one hundred (100) days to allow the parties an opportunity to 18 settle their dispute before the discovery process begins. Except as provided herein or by 19 subsequent court order, no other pleadings or other documents may be filed in this case 20 during the stay of this action. The parties shall not engage in formal discovery, but may 21 engage in informal discovery to prepare for the settlement conference. 22 2. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe 23 on June 6, 2019, at 9:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse located at 2500 Tulare 24 Street, Fresno, California. 25 26 3. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding settlement shall attend in person. 27 4. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses, and damages. The 28 failure or refusal of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear 2 1 in person may result in the cancellation of the conference and the imposition of sanctions. 2 The manner and timing of Plaintiff’s transportation to and from the conference is within the 3 discretion of CDCR. 4 5. Defendants shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email 5 address: bamorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his confidential settlement 6 statement to U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California, 93721, 7 “Attention: Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe.” The envelope shall be marked 8 “Confidential Settlement Statement”. Settlement statements shall arrive no later than May 9 30, 2019. Parties shall also file a Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement 10 Statement. See Local Rule 270(d). Settlement statements should not be filed with the 11 Clerk of the Court nor served on any other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly 12 marked “confidential” with the date and time of the settlement conference indicated 13 prominently thereon. 14 15 6. The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length, typed or neatly printed, and include the following: 16 a. A brief statement of the facts of the case. 17 b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon 18 which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties’ likelihood of 19 prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in 20 dispute. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 c. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, and trial. d. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands. e. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement conference, including how much a party is willing to accept and/or willing to pay. f. If the parties intend to discuss the joint settlement of any other actions or claims not in this suit, give a brief description of each action or claim as set forth above, 3 including case number(s) if applicable. 1 7. If a settlement is reached at any point during the stay of this action, the parties shall file a 2 Notice of Settlement in accordance with Local Rule 160. 3 8. If the defense counsel wishes to “opt-out” of this settlement for the reasons stated above, 4 5 counsel must do so within thirty (30) days of this order by filing a “Notice of Opt-Out and 6 Request to Vacate Settlement Conference.” 7 9. The parties remain obligated to keep the Court informed of their current address at all times 8 during the stay and while the action is pending. Any change of address must be reported 9 promptly to the Court in a separate document captioned for this case and entitled “Notice of Change of Address.” See Local Rule 182(f). 10 10. A failure to follow these procedures may result in the imposition of sanctions by the court. 11 12 13 IT IS SO ORDERED. 14 Dated: 15 March 5, 2019 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4

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