Johnson v. Wang et al

Filing 37

ORDER denying Plaintiff George Johnson and Defendant Donald P. Wang's 36 request for judicial settlement conference. Signed by Judge James L. Robart. (PM)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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GEORGE JOHNSON,
Plaintiff,

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v.
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CASE NO. C16-1738JLR
ORDER DENYING REQUEST
FOR JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT
CONFERENCE

DONALD P. WANG, et al.,
Defendants.

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Before the court is the Plaintiff George Johnson and pro se Defendant Donald P.

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Wang’s joint request for the court to order a judicial settlement conference. (Req. (Dkt.

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# 36).) They state that they “are at loggerheads over settlement” and that “judicial

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intervention might help to resolve the case without the necessity of trial.” (Id. at 1.)

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Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 39.1(e), “[u]nless otherwise ordered by the court, a judicial

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settlement conference will only be held in a case where the parties have already

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participated in mediation, but have been unable to reach a settlement.” Local Rules W.D.

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Wash. LCR 39.1(e). The parties have not participated in mediation (see Req.), and the

ORDER - 1

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court’s deadline for a settlement conference passed on June 14, 2018 (Sched. Order (Dkt.

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# 23) at 1). The court therefore DENIES the parties’ request (Dkt. # 36). The court may,

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however, consider a request for a judicial settlement conference after a formal mediation

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has taken place.

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The court further informs the parties that it expects this matter to be ready for trial

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as scheduled on Monday, August 13, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. (See Sched. Order at 1.) The

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court will not entertain any request to continue that date absent truly extenuating

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circumstances. In addition, both parties must attend in person the pretrial conference

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scheduled for Monday, July 23, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (See Dkt. (6/27/18 entry).) Finally,

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the court reminds the parties that their agreed pretrial order is due on July 23, 2018; their

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deposition designations are due on July 25, 2018; and their trial briefs and proposed

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findings of fact and conclusions of law are due on August 6, 2018. (Sched. Order at 2.)

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The court may consider a failure to “appear at [the] pretrial conference” or to “be

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prepared for trial on the date assigned . . . an abandonment or failure to prosecute or

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defend diligently, and judgment may be entered against that party.” Local Rules W.D.

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Wash. LCR 11(c) (stating that a judgment entered under that provision may be “with

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respect to a specific issue or the entire case”).

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Dated this 11th day of July, 2018.

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A

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JAMES L. ROBART
United States District Judge

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