Estate of Cody Catanzarite et al v. County of Sacramento et al

Filing 21

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan on 3/10/2025 ORDERING that A pre-settlement conference is SET for 4/28/2025 at 2:30 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan. A Settlement Conference is SET for 4/30/2025 at 10:00 AM before Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan. No later than 4/23/2025, each party must submit a confidential settlement conference statement, to Magistrate Judge Riordan. (Deputy Clerk LMS)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ESTATE OF CODY CATANZARITE, et
al.,
Plaintiffs,

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v.

No. 2:24-cv-1123 DAD CKD

ORDER

COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO, et al.,
Defendants.

Magistrate Judge Sean C. Rirodan will hold a settlement conference in this case on April
30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The settlement conference will be held via Zoom unless the parties
request that the conference be conducted in person; login details will be provided prior to the date
of the conference. The court expects that the parties will proceed with the settlement conference
in good faith and attempt to resolve all or part of the case. If any party believes that the
settlement conference will not be productive, that party shall so inform the court as far in advance
of the settlement conference as possible. Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the court in
advance of the settlement conference, the following individuals must participate in the settlement
conference: (1) all of the attorney(s) who will try the case; (2) the parties; and (3) individuals with
full authority to negotiate and settle the case, on any terms.
No later than April 23, 2025, each party must submit to Judge Rirodan’s chambers at
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[e-mail] a confidential settlement conference statement. These statements

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should not be filed on the docket; however, each party shall e-file a one-page document entitled

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Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement. The statements should

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be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and should state the date and time of the conference.

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While brevity is appreciated, each statement must include:

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(1) a brief recitation of the facts;

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(2) a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the case, from your party’s

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perspective;
(3) an itemized estimate of your party’s expected costs for further discovery, pretrial, and
trial matters, in specific dollar terms;
(4) your best estimate of the probability that plaintiff will obtain a finding of liability
should this case proceed to trial, in percentage terms;
(5) should this case proceed to trial and defendant be found liable, please provide the
following, in specific dollar terms:

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(a) a realistic high-end recovery estimate (i.e., realistic best- or worst-case

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scenario)

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(b) a realistic low-end recovery estimate (i.e., realistic worst- or best-case

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scenario), and
(c) a best estimate of the most likely outcome;
(6) a history of settlement discussions, including:

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(a) a statement of your expectations for settlement discussions;

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(b) a listing of any past and present settlement offers from any party (including all

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terms);

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(c) whether your party would consider making the opening offer or demand, and

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what that offer might be;

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(7) a list of the individuals who will be participating in the settlement conference on your
party’s behalf, including each participant’s name and, if appropriate, title;
(8) identification of any related cases or of any other cases that the parties might wish to
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discuss at this settlement conference; and

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(9) a completed worksheet (blank version attached) highlighting your responses to
certain of the above questions.

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Judge Riordan will hold a short, pre-settlement conference via Zoom on April 28, 2025 at

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2:30 p.m. Only the lead attorney from each side1 should participate. At Judge Riordan’s

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discretion, the joint discussion may be followed by private discussions between the judge and

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each party. Zoom login information will be provided in advance of April 28, 2025.

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In accordance with the above, it is hereby ORDERED that:

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1. A pre-settlement conference is set before Magistrate Judge Riordan on April 28, 2025

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at 2:30 p.m.

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2. A settlement conference is set before Magistrate Judge Riordan on April 30, 2025, at
10:00 a.m.

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3. No later than April 23, 2025, each party must submit a confidential settlement

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conference statement, as described above, to Magistrate Judge Riordan.

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DATED: March 10, 2025

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The court expects that the attorneys participating in the pre-settlement conference discussion
will also participate in the settlement conference.
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Pre-Settlement Worksheet

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Please fill in each value below
Additional cost to your party expected
for . . . discovery
. . . pretrial
. . . trial
Estimated probability of liability
finding
Realistic high-end estimate of recovery
by P
Realistic low-end estimate of recovery
by P
Best estimate of recovery by P
Last offer/demand (if any) previously
made by your party
Last offer/demand (if any) previously
made by opposing party
Proposed next offer/demand by your
party

$
$
$
%
$
$
$
$
$
$

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