Fedora v. Lollar

Filing 40

ORDER re 36 Letter, 39 Letter which have been considered by the undersigned as motions to attend mediation by tele-conference are denied. Signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell on 6/29/2017. The time of the mediation to occur shall be extended to July 20, 2017. See Order for further details. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(kby)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
1:16CV26

SHIRLEY ANN FEDORA,

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Plaintiff,
v
ALISHA SANE LOLLAR,
Defendant.

ORDER

This matter has come before the undersigned pursuant to a letter (#36) dated
June 19, 2017, forwarded to the Court by Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se in this
matter. In the letter, Plaintiff requests permission of the Court to attend a mediated
settlement conference by tele-conference. On June 27, 2017, Plaintiff filed another
letter (#39) with the Court. Plaintiff now contends that she is sick and cannot attend
the mediation. Plaintiff also attached a letter from Dr. Sarah Roberts dated June 22,
2017. The letter from Dr. Roberts states in full:
The above patient is currently ill and it is my medical opinion that they
not travel at this current time. Please allow her the ability to attend any
commitments via tele or video-conference if at all possible.
(Ex. 1 to Pl.’s Letter, ECF No. 39-1.)
Defendant objects to Plaintiff appearing by tele-conference. Specifically,
Defendant contends that as part of the Pro Se Settlement Assistance Program, a
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mediated settlement conference was conducted in this matter in June 2016, and
Plaintiff was allowed to participate by telephone. This mediation resulted in an
impasse. In addition, Defendant contends that in August 2016, Plaintiff agreed to a
settlement in this matter but later reneged on the settlement. Finally, Plaintiff has
previously failed to appear for a motion hearing ordered by the Court on her Motion
to Compel.
Local Rule 16.3(B)(1) provides that mediation in this Court shall be governed
by the Rules Governing Mediated Settlement Conferences in Superior Court Civil
Actions as set forth in N.C.G.S. § 7A-38. Those rules require the attendance of
parties at mediation. However, the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for this Court
supplements the state rules.

Local Rule 16.3(C)(2) provides as follows:

“Telephonic Attendance. All mediated settlement conferences shall be conducted
in person, unless leave is otherwise granted by the mediator.” It is clear from an
examination of both the state and federal rules, that attendance at a mediation by a
party is stressed; telephonic attendance is the exception.
The parties in this case have known since the entry of the Pretrial Order in
August 31, 2016, that mediation was required in this case. The date for the deadline
for the completion of mediation originally was April 15, 2017. The mediation
deadline has been delayed twice by this Court upon motion of the parties. An Order
(#19) was entered on April 4, 2017, which delayed the deadline for the mediation
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until June 1, 2017. On May 16, 2017, another Order (#25), was entered which
delayed the deadline for the completion of mediation in this matter until July 1, 2017.
The parties, and particularly the Plaintiff, have known for months that they should
be preparing for mediation in this case. Because the parties could not agree on a
mediator the Court was also required to enter an Order appointing attorney Kathy
Gleason as mediator in this case. In this Order, the Court advised the Plaintiff that
she was required to appear at the mediation when it was scheduled by Ms. Gleason.
In fact, the Court warned Plaintiff that the failure to participate and appear at future
court hearings or the mediation could result in the dismissal of her action.
An examination of this file in this matter shows that Plaintiff has failed to
grasp that attendance at court-ordered proceedings is not optional. The filing of a
Complaint in federal court is a serious undertaking by any party, and it requires the
full participation of all parties who either choose to be involved in the litigation or
who are compelled to defend themselves in the litigation.
The Court has considered the reasons why Plaintiff wishes to participate in
the mediation by tele-conference. She states she is involved in the care of her seven
year old grandson, whom she advises, is her “first priority” and she contends she has
no resources. In her last letter (#39) Plaintiff now contends she is ill and cannot
attend in person. The Court gives little weight to the contention of illness. The email
from the physician does not even state the reason why the Plaintiff is ill. It appears
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to be just a communication to try to bolster Plaintiff’s contention that she should be
able to attend the mediation by tele-conference.
On the other hand, Defendant has already agreed on one occasion for Plaintiff
to participate by telephone conference in mediation, which reached an impasse.
Defendant has alleged that Plaintiff has, on another occasion, reneged on a
settlement agreement.
After weighing the contentions of both Plaintiff and Defendant, the
undersigned will enter an Order denying the motions of Plaintiff (#36) and (#39).
The Court will, however, extend the time for mediation to take place and will set a
specific date, time, and place for the mediation. The Court instructs the Plaintiff that
if the Plaintiff does not attend in person at the mediation, this Court will tax to the
Plaintiff the entire costs of the mediator’s services and will also conduct a further
hearing concerning whether or not the attorney fees of Defendant for attendance at
the mediation should be paid by Plaintiff.
ORDER
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the letters of the Plaintiff (#36) and
(#39), which have been considered by the undersigned as motions to attend
mediation by tele-conference are DENIED. The time of the mediation to occur shall
be extended to July 20, 2017. On July 20, 2017, mediation in this matter shall occur
at the office of Defendant’s counsel, that being Roberts & Stevens, P.A., 301
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College Street, Suite 400, Asheville, NC. Mediation shall take place at 10:00 a.m.
The Plaintiff is ORDERED and directed to appear and participate in the mediation.
Should the Plaintiff not appear, then the Court will conduct further hearings
regarding the taxing of the mediator’s fees to Plaintiff and also taxing the costs of
Defendant’s counsel for preparation for and attendance at mediation against
Plaintiff. The Clerk of this Court is requested to send a copy of this Order to Ms.
Gleason.

Signed: June 29, 2017

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