Steward v. Igbinosa et al

Filing 49

ORDER REFERRING Case to Post-Screening ADR and STAYING Case, signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 9/8/2021. Settlement Conference set for 11/9/2021 at 11:00 AM via Zoom Videoconference before Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone. (Rivera, O)

Case 1:18-cv-00551-AWI-BAM Document 49 Filed 09/08/21 Page 1 of 4

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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DONNY STEWARD,

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Plaintiff,

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Case No. 1:18-cv-00551-AWI-BAM (PC)
ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE

v.

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IGBINOSA, et al.,

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Defendants.

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Hearing:
Date:
Time:
Judge:
Location:

Settlement Conference
November 9, 2021
11:00 a.m.
Stanley A. Boone
via Zoom Videoconference

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Plaintiff Donny Steward (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

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pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action proceeds on Plaintiff’s

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first amended complaint against Defendants Igbinosa, Faria, Nelson, Lewis, Brightwell, Cerda, and

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Hill for violations of the Eighth Amendment. Defendants Igbinosa, Faria, Lewis, Brightwell, Cerda,

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and Hill have answered the complaint.1 (ECF No. 48.)
Because it takes years to get to trial, the Court has identified this case as an appropriate case

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for post-screening ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), which is an effort to resolve such cases

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more expeditiously and less expensively. No claims, defenses, or objections shall be waived by the

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parties’ participation. In appropriate cases, defense counsel from the California State Attorney

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General’s Office has agreed to participate in these early settlements.

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As set forth in the Ninth Circuit’s reversal and remand order, Plaintiff has stated a cognizable

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civil rights claim. But, stating a cognizable claim does not mean Plaintiff will prevail at trial. Thus,

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the Court stays this action to allow the parties to investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and confer, and

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On August 9, 2021, the Court issued findings and recommendations to dismiss Defendant Nelson,
without prejudice, due to Plaintiff’s failure to serve process pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 4(m). (ECF No. 43.)
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then participate in a settlement conference.
Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone to conduct a video

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settlement conference, via the Zoom videoconferencing application, on November 9, 2021, at

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11:00 a.m. The Court will issue any necessary transportation order in due course.
Counsel for Defendants shall contact Courtroom Deputy, Mamie Hernandez, at (559) 499-

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5672 or [e-mail] for the video and dial-in information, including any

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necessary passcodes, for all parties. Counsel for Defendants is also required to arrange for Plaintiff’s

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participation by contacting the Litigation Coordinator at the institution where Plaintiff is housed and

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providing the necessary Zoom contact information.

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In issuing this order, there is a presumption that this case will proceed to a settlement

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conference.2 However, if after investigating Plaintiff’s claims and speaking with Plaintiff, and after

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conferring with others, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference would be a

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waste of resources, defense counsel may move to opt out of this early settlement conference. A

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written notice to opt out must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of the issuance of this order.
The parties shall each submit to Judge Boone a confidential settlement conference statement,

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as described below, to arrive at least seven days (one week) prior to the conference.
The Court puts the parties on notice that if Plaintiff has any outstanding criminal restitution

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obligation, fines and/or penalties, these settlement negotiations shall not be geared towards what the

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restitution obligation is, but what the value of the case itself is to each side, irrespective of any

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outstanding restitution obligation.
In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1. This action is STAYED to allow the parties an opportunity to settle their dispute before the

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discovery process begins. Except as provided herein or by subsequent court order, no other

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pleadings or other documents may be filed in this case during the stay of this action. The

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parties shall not engage in formal discovery, but may engage in informal discovery to prepare

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If the case does not settle, the Court will then lift the stay of its Discovery and Scheduling Order or
issue one forthwith.
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for the settlement conference.

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2. This case is set for a video settlement conference, via the Zoom videoconferencing

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application, before Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on November 9, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.

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3. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding

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settlement shall attend via the Zoom videoconferencing application.3

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4. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages. The failure

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

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may result in the cancellation of the conference and the imposition of sanctions. The manner

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and timing of Plaintiff’s transportation to and from the conference is within the discretion of
CDCR.

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5. Defendants shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email address:

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[e-mail]. Plaintiff shall mail his confidential settlement statement to

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U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California 93721, “Attention: Magistrate

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Judge Stanley A. Boone.” The envelope shall be marked “Confidential Settlement

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Statement.” Settlement statements shall arrive no later than November 2, 2021. Parties shall

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also file a Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement 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 any

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other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly marked “Confidential” with the date and

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time of the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.
6. The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length, typed or

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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 dispute.

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In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the evolving coronavirus protocols, the Court
may issue an order at a later date requiring the parties to appear in person.
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c. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, and trial.

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d. 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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e. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement conference,

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

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f. If parties intend to discuss the joint settlement of any other actions or claims not in this

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suit, give a brief description of each action or claim as set forth above, including case

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number(s) if applicable.

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7. If a settlement is reached at any point during the stay of this action, the parties shall file a
Notice of Settlement in accordance with Local Rule 160.
8. If defense counsel wishes to “opt-out” of this settlement for the reasons stated above, counsel

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must do so within thirty (30) days of this order by filing a “Notice of Opt-Out and Request to

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Vacate Settlement Conference.”

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9. If defense counsel does not wish to opt-out, defense counsel shall contact the Litigation

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Coordinator at the institution where Plaintiff is housed to determine whether the

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institution can accommodate a Zoom video appearance by Plaintiff at this date and time.

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10. The parties remain obligated to keep the Court informed of their current address at all times

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during the stay and while the action is pending. Any change of address must be reported

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promptly to the Court in a separate document captioned for this case and entitled “Notice of

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Change of Address.” See Local Rule 182(f).

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11. A failure to follow these procedures may result in the imposition of sanctions by the
court.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

/s/ Barbara

September 8, 2021

A. McAuliffe

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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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