Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00064/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00064-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARK E. DORSEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

D. MOORE, et al.,

Defendants.

1:15-cv-00064-DAD-BAM (PC)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

Date: November 9, 2016

Time: 1:30 p.m. 

Place: Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility

480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179

Plaintiff Mark E. Dorsey (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The court has determined that 

this case will benefit from a settlement conference. Therefore, this case will be referred to 

Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to conduct a settlement conference at Richard J. Donovan 

Correctional Facility (RJD), 480 Alta Road, San Diego, California 92179, on November 9, 2016

at 1:30 p.m. 

Furthermore, to allow the parties to focus on preparing for the settlement negotiations, the 

upcoming deadline for filing and serving dispositive motions in this matter will be extended until 

after the settlement conference is completed.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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Case 1:15-cv-00064-DAD-BAM Document 55 Filed 07/27/16 Page 1 of 4
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1. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. 

Thurston on November 9, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Richard J. Donovan Correctional 

Facility (RJD), 480 Alta Road, San Diego California 92179.

2. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding 

settlement shall attend in person.1

3. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages. 

The failure of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear in 

person may result in the imposition of sanctions. In addition, the conference will not 

proceed and will be reset to another date.

4. At least twenty one (21) days before the settlement conference, Plaintiff SHALL 

submit to Defendant, by mail, a written itemization of damages and a meaningful 

settlement demand, which includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is 

appropriate, not to exceed ten (10) pages in length. Thereafter, no later than fourteen 

(14) days before the settlement conference, Defendant SHALL respond, by telephone 

or in person, with an acceptance of the offer or with a meaningful counteroffer, which 

includes a brief explanation of why such a settlement is appropriate. If settlement is 

achieved, defense counsel is to immediately inform the courtroom deputy of 

Magistrate Judge Thurston. 

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1 While the exercise of its authority is subject to abuse of discretion review, “the district court has 

the authority to order parties, including the federal government, to participate in mandatory settlement 

conferences... .” United States v. United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, 694 F.3d 

1051, 1053, 1057, 1059 (9th Cir. 2012)(“the district court has broad authority to compel participation in 

mandatory settlement conference[s].”). The term “full authority to settle” means that the individuals 

attending the mediation conference must be authorized to fully explore settlement options and to agree at 

that time to any settlement terms acceptable to the parties. G. Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat 

Corp., 871 F.2d 648, 653 (7th Cir. 1989), cited with approval in Official Airline Guides, Inc. v. Goss, 6 

F.3d 1385, 1396 (9th Cir. 1993). The individual with full authority to settle must also have “unfettered 

discretion and authority” to change the settlement position of the party, if appropriate. Pitman v. Brinker 

Int’l., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-86 (D. Ariz. 2003), amended on recon. in part, Pitman v. Brinker Int’l., 

Inc., 2003 WL 23353478 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose behind requiring the attendance of a person with 

full settlement authority is that the parties’ view of the case may be altered during the face to face 

conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. at 486. An authorization to settle for a limited dollar amount or sum 

certain can be found not to comply with the requirement of full authority to settle. Nick v. Morgan’s 

Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 596-97 (8th Cir. 2001).

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5. If settlement is not achieved informally, each party shall submit a confidential 

settlement statement not later than November 2, 2016 to jltorders@caed.uscourts.gov. 

Plaintiff shall mail his confidential settlement statement to ADR Director, U. S. 

District Court, 501 I Street, Suite 4-200, Sacramento, California 95814 so it arrives no 

later than November 2, 2016. Parties are also directed to file a “Notice of Submission 

of Confidential Settlement Statement” (See L.R. 270(d)).

Settlement statements should not be filed with the Clerk of the court nor served on 

any other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly marked “confidential” with 

the date and time of the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.

The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length, 

typed or neatly printed, and include the following:

a. A brief statement of the facts of the case.

b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses, i.e., statutory or other grounds upon 

which the claims are founded; a forthright evaluation of the parties’ likelihood of 

prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in 

dispute.

c. A summary of the proceedings to date.

d. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, and 

trial.

e. The relief sought.

f. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a 

history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands.

g. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement 

conference.

6. The deadline for filing and serving all dispositive motions (other than a motion for 

summary judgment for failure to exhaust) in this matter is extended until December 9, 

2016. Any request for an additional extension of this deadline must be filed on or 

before it expires, and will only be granted upon a showing of good cause.

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7. The Clerk of the court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the litigation office 

at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility via facsimile at (619) 671-7566.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 26, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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