Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01695/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01695-2/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

RICHARD MICHAEL SOMERVILLE,

Plaintiff,

v.

B. BETANCOURT, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:21-cv-01695-ADA-CDB (PC)

ORDER REFERRING CASE TO 

POST-SCREENING ADR AND 

STAYING CASE FOR 90 DAYS

FORTY-FIVE (45) DAY DEADLINE 

Plaintiff Richard Michael Somerville is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis in this civil rights action filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

On August 14, 2023, the Court screened the complaint and found that it states cognizable 

Eighth Amendment failure to protect claims against Defendants Betancourt, Marquez, and Rios.

(Doc. 16). On November 17, 2023, Defendants filed an answer to Plaintiff’s complaint. (Doc. 

24).

The Court refers all civil rights cases filed by pro se inmates to Alternative Dispute 

Resolution (“ADR”) to attempt to resolve such cases more expeditiously and less expensively. 

The Court stays this action for ninety days to allow the parties to investigate Plaintiff’s 

claims, meet and confer, and participate in an early settlement conference. The Court presumes 

that all post-screening civil rights cases assigned to the undersigned will proceed to a settlement 

conference. However, if, after investigating Plaintiff’s claims and meeting and conferring, either 

Case 1:21-cv-01695-CDB Document 26 Filed 11/20/23 Page 1 of 2
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party finds that a settlement conference would be a waste of resources, the party may opt out of 

the early settlement conference. 

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED:

1. This action is STAYED for ninety (90) days to allow the parties an opportunity to settle 

their dispute before the discovery process begins. No pleadings or motions may be filed 

in this case during the stay. The parties shall not engage in formal discovery, but they 

may engage in informal discovery to prepare for the settlement conference.

2. Within 45 days from the date of this Order, the parties SHALL file the attached notice, 

indicating their agreement to proceed to an early settlement conference or their belief that

settlement is not achievable at this time.

3. Within 60 days from the date of this Order, the assigned Deputy Attorney General 

SHALL contact the undersigned’s Courtroom Deputy Clerk at shall@caed.uscourts.gov

to schedule the settlement conference, assuming the parties agree to participate in an 

early settlement conference.

4. If the parties reach a settlement during the stay of this action, they SHALL file a Notice 

of Settlement as required by Local Rule 160.

5. The Clerk of the Court SHALL serve via email copies of Plaintiff’s complaint (Doc. 1), 

the First Screening Order (Doc. 12), the Findings and Recommendations to Dismiss 

Defendant (Doc. 16), and this Order to Supervising Deputy Attorney General Monica 

Anderson, and a copy of this Order to ADR Coordinator Sujean Park.

The parties are obligated to keep the Court informed of their current addresses during the 

stay and the pendency of this action. Changes of address must be reported promptly in a Notice 

of Change of Address. See L.R. 182(f).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 20, 2023 ___________________ _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-01695-CDB Document 26 Filed 11/20/23 Page 2 of 2