(PC) Woods v. Jones et al
Filing
18
ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis M. Cota on 09/24/2024 REFERRING CASE TO POST-SCREENING ADR PROJECT AND STAYING CASE FOR 120 DAYS. Within 30 days from the date of this order, Defendants shall file any motion to opt out of the Post-Screening ADR Project. Each party shall submit a confidential settlement conference statement at least 7 days prior to the conference. If settlement is reached, the parties shall file a Notice of Settlement. (Spichka, K.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
AARON EARL WOODS,
12
Plaintiff,
13
14
No. 2:23-CV-3053-DMC-P
v.
ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE
FOR 120 DAYS
RUIZ,
15
Defendant.
16
Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to
17
18
42 U.S.C. § 1983. An answer has been filed and the case is now at issue.
The undersigned is referring all post-screening civil rights cases filed by pro se
19
20
state inmates to Post-Screening Early ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in an effort to
21
resolve such cases more expeditiously and less expensively. Defense counsel from the Office of
22
the California Attorney General has agreed to participate in Early ADR. No defenses or
23
objections shall be waived by their participation.
As set forth in the screening order, Plaintiff has stated a potentially cognizable
24
25
civil rights claim. Thus, the Court stays this action for a period of 120 days to allow the parties to
26
investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and confer, and then participate in a settlement conference.
27
///
28
///
1
1
There is a presumption that all post-screening prisoner civil rights cases assigned
2
to the undersigned will proceed to settlement conference. 1 However, if after investigating
3
Plaintiff’s claims and speaking with Plaintiff, and after conferring with defense counsel’s
4
supervisor, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference would be a waste of
5
resources, defense counsel may move to opt out of Early ADR. A motion to opt out must be filed
6
within 30 days of the date of this order.
7
Once the settlement conference is scheduled, at least seven days prior to the
8
conference, the parties shall submit to the settlement judge a confidential settlement conference
9
statement. The parties’ confidential settlement conference statements shall include the following:
10
(a) names and locations of the parties; (b) a short statement of the facts and alleged damages; (c) a
11
short procedural history; (d) an analysis of the risk of liability, including a discussion of the
12
efforts made to investigate the allegations; and (e) a discussion of the efforts that have been made
13
to settle the case. Defense counsel shall e-mail the settlement conference statement to the
14
settlement judge’s e-mail box for proposed orders, available on the court’s website. Plaintiff shall
15
place his settlement conference statement in the U.S. mail addressed to the settlement conference
16
judge, United States District Court, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Plaintiff shall mail his
17
settlement conference statement so that it is received by the Court at least seven days before the
18
settlement conference.
19
In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
20
1.
This action is stayed for 120 days to allow the parties an opportunity to
21
settle their dispute before the discovery process begins. Except as provided herein or by
22
subsequent court order, no other pleadings or other documents may be filed in this case during the
23
stay of this action. The parties shall not engage in formal discovery, but the parties may elect to
24
engage in informal discovery.
25
2.
Within 30 days from the date of this order, Defendants shall file any
26
motion to opt out of Post-screening Early ADR.
27
///
28
1
If the case does not settle, the Court will issue a discovery and scheduling order.
2
1
3.
At least seven days prior to the settlement conference, each party shall
2
submit a confidential settlement conference statement, as described above, to the settlement
3
judge. Defense counsel shall e-mail the settlement conference statement to the settlement judge’s
4
proposed orders e-mail address. Plaintiff shall place his settlement conference statement in the
5
U.S. mail addressed to the settlement judge, United States District Court, 501 I Street,
6
Sacramento, CA 95814. Plaintiff shall mail his settlement conference statement so that it is
7
received by the court at least seven days before the settlement conference.
8
9
10
4.
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.
5.
The parties remain obligated to keep the court informed of their current
11
addresses at all times during the stay and while the action is pending. Any change of address
12
must be reported promptly to the court in a separate document captioned for this case and entitled
13
“Notice of Change of Address.” See Local Rule 182(f).
14
15
Dated: September 24, 2024
____________________________________
DENNIS M. COTA
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?