Johnson v. Cardenas et al

Filing 18

ORDER signed by District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. on 06/17/16 ORDERING that the settlement referral is WITHDRAWN and the 06/23/16 settlement conference before Magistate Judge Kendall J. Newman is VACATED; this action is STAYED and REFERRED to VDRP. Parties to contact VDRP within 14 days; no later than 14 days after completion of VDRP, the parties shall jointly file their VDRP Completion Report. Objections due within 7 days (cc: VDRP, KJN). (Benson, A)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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SCOTT JOHNSON,

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Plaintiff,
v.

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No. 2:15-cv-00297 MCE CKD
ORDER

ALICIA CARDENAS in his individual and
representative capacity as trustee of the
Alicia Cardenas 2014 Revocable Trust;
ALICIA CARDENAS; and DOES 1-10
Defendants.

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.

Plaintiff commenced this disability access case asserting a claim under the Americans
with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and related state law claims, and defendant has answered the
complaint. Thereafter, the case was referred to a United States magistrate judge for a settlement
conference.
The court continues to believe that it is in the best interest of the parties to avoid the
accumulation of fees and costs through potentially unnecessary discovery and motion practice,
and to allow the parties some time to pursue settlement of this matter by virtue of alternative
dispute resolution. Nevertheless, due to the congestion of the court’s docket and the resultant
inability of United States magistrate judges to timely facilitate settlement conferences in all cases,
the court finds it appropriate to withdraw the previous referral of this case for a settlement
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conference, and instead refer the action to the court’s Voluntary Dispute Resolution Program

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(“VDRP”).

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1. The referral of this case for a settlement conference is WITHDRAWN and the June

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23, 2016 settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman is

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VACATED.

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2. This action is STAYED and REFERRED to the VDRP.

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3. Within fourteen (14) days of this order, the parties shall contact the court’s VDRP

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administrator, Sujean Park, at [phone] or [e-mail], to start
the process of selecting an appropriate neutral.
4. The parties shall carefully review and comply with Local Rule 271, which outlines the
specifications and requirements of the VDRP.
5. No later than fourteen (14) days after completion of the VDRP session, the parties
shall jointly file their VDRP Completion Report, consistent with Local Rule 271(o).

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6. Any party that objects to this referral to the VDRP shall file its objections within

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seven (7) days of this order. Such objections shall clearly outline why that party

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believes that the action is not appropriate for referral to the VDRP.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: June 17, 2016

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