Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01951/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01951-9/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

JOSHUA A. WILLARD,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. NEIBERT, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 1:14-cv-01951-AWI-SAB (PC)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

Plaintiff Joshua A. Willard is appearing 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 the U. S. District Court, 510 19th Street, 

Bakersfield, California 93301 on April 5, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. 

A separate order and writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum will issue concurrently with 

this order.

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

1. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. 

Thurston on April 5, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the U. S. District Court, 510 19th Street, 

Bakersfield, California 93301.

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

settlement shall attend in person.

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 14 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 pages in length. Thereafter, no later than 10 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. 

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

settlement statement to Sujean Park, ADR Division, 501 I Street, Suite 4-200, 

Sacramento, California 95814, or by email to spark@caed.uscourts.gov so they arrive 

no later than March 30, 2017 and file a “Notice of Submission of Confidential 

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

6. 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 

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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.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 14, 2017 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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