BLACKMAN, et al v. DC, et al

Filing 2527

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER that the parties shall meet and confer and file a joint status report on or before January 29, 2016, proposing available dates for the evidentiary hearing no earlier than April 20, 2016, and a schedule for depositions and the filing of memoranda referenced in the Court's Order of August 18, 2015; no further continuances of the evidentiary hearing will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances. Signed by Judge Paul L. Friedman on January 14, 2016. (MA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_________________________________________
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Plaintiffs,
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v.
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, et al.,
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Defendants.
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_________________________________________ )
MIKEISHA BLACKMAN, et al.,

Civil Action No. 97-1629 (PLF)
Consolidated with
Civil Action No. 97-2402 (PLF)

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On January 8, 2016, Daniel McCall moved to continue the evidentiary hearing
that had been set in this matter for January 12, 2016. The Court granted the continuance by
Minute Order of January 11, 2016. Petitioner Jayshawn Douglas responded, consenting to
continuing the hearing, but requesting that: (1) mediation be continued until February 29, 2016;
(2) depositions be authorized and taken in March; (3) a firm hearing date be set in April with no
further continuances absent extraordinary circumstances; and (4) the memoranda of law
referenced in this Court’s August 18, 2015 Order be due two weeks prior to the evidentiary
hearing date. McCall argues that settlement discussions with Magistrate Judge Harvey should be
allowed to continue until Judge Harvey believes that the matter is at an impasse and discussions
no longer are fruitful. McCall, however, does not object to taking relevant depositions and filing
memoranda of law in the meantime.
As long as sessions before Magistrate Judge Harvey continue to be productive
towards resolving this matter, the Court is reluctant to impose a firm deadline for the conclusion

of settlement discussions. This matter, however, has been pending since November 4, 2014, and
almost six months have passed since the originally scheduled date for the evidentiary hearing.
The Court believes that a firm date for the evidentiary hearing may aid settlement discussions.
The Court therefore will order that no further continuances of the evidentiary hearing in this
matter will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances. The parties will also be authorized to
take relevant depositions and file memoranda of law in preparation for the hearing. The Court
encourages the parties to continue to engage in good-faith settlement discussions and to finally
resolve this matter. For these reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that the parties – including the District of Columbia – shall meet and
confer and file a joint status report on or before January 29, 2016, proposing: (1) available dates
for the evidentiary hearing no earlier than April 20, 2016; and (2) a schedule for depositions and
the filing of the memoranda referenced by the Court in its August 18, 2015 Order; and it is
ORDERED that no further continuances of the evidentiary hearing will be granted
absent extraordinary circumstances.
SO ORDERED.

/s/_______________________________
PAUL L. FRIEDMAN
United States District Judge

DATE: January 14, 2016

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