Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01770/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01770-5/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

TROY SYKES,

Plaintiff,

v.

GALINDO, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-01770-KES-EPG (PC)

ORDER SETTING 

|SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

Plaintiff Troy Sykes is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this 

civil rights action filed 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 

Christopher D. Baker to conduct a settlement conference on December 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

The settlement conference will be conducted by remote means, with all parties appearing by 

Zoom video conference. The court will issue the necessary transportation order in due course.

In accordance with the above, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Christopher D. 

Baker on December 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The settlement conference will be 

conducted by remote means, with all parties appearing by Zoom video conference.

The Zoom settlement conference invitation will be distributed the week prior, or 

counsel may contact Cori Boren, Courtroom Deputy for Magistrate Judge Baker, at

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cboren@caed.uscourts.gov. Any difficulties concerning the Zoom video conference, 

or connecting to the Zoom video conference, shall immediately be reported to Cori 

Boren. The court will issue a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum to allow for 

plaintiff’s participation, as appropriate.

2. Each party or a representative with full authority to negotiate and enter into a binding 

settlement agreement shall participate in the conference. The failure of any counsel, 

party, or authorized person subject to this order to participate in the conference may 

result in the imposition of sanctions.

3. Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires thorough preparation prior 

to the settlement conference. Participants in the conference must be prepared to 

discuss the claims, defenses, and damages.

4. If parties have not already engaged in informal settlement negotiations, parties shall do 

so as follows: No later than November 15, 2024, Plaintiff shall submit to Defendants

a written itemization of damages and a meaningful settlement demand, including a 

brief explanation of why such settlement is appropriate, which shall not exceed 5 

pages. No later than November 22, 2024 defendants shall respond with an acceptance 

of plaintiff’s offer or a meaningful counteroffer, including a brief explanation of why 

such settlement is appropriate. If settlement is achieved, the parties shall file a Notice 

of Settlement as required by Local Rule 160.

5. If settlement is not achieved informally, the parties shall submit confidential 

settlement conference statements no later than November 29, 2024 via email to 

CDBorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his statement, clearly captioned 

“Confidential Settlement Conference Statement,” to United States District Court, Attn: 

Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker, 510 19th Street, Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 

93301. Once the parties have submitted their statements, they shall file a “Notice of 

Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement” with the court. The 

confidential settlement conference statements themselves should not be filed with the 

court nor served on the opposing party.

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6. The confidential settlement conference statements should be no longer than 5 pages in 

length and include:

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

b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses of the case, i.e., the statutory, 

constitutional, or other grounds upon which the claims are founded;

c. A forthright discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the case and an 

evaluation of the likelihood of prevailing on the claims or defenses, from the 

party’s perspective, and a description of the major issues in dispute;

d. An estimate of the party’s expected costs and time to be expended for further 

discovery, pretrial matters, and trial;

e. A summary of past settlement discussions, including the informal settlement 

negotiations required above; a statement of the party’s current position on 

settlement, including the amount the party would offer and accept to settle (in 

specific dollar amounts); and a statement of the party’s expectations for settlement 

discussions;

f. An estimate of any restitution allocated to plaintiff, or other financial obligation 

assigned to plaintiff, that would affect the parties’ settlement discussions;

g. A list of the individuals who will be attending the conference on the party’s behalf, 

including names and, if appropriate, titles; and,

h. If a party intends to discuss the settlement of any other actions or claims not raised 

in this suit, a brief description of each action or claim, including case number(s), as

applicable.

7. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order via fax on the 

Litigation Office at Avenal State Prison at (559) 386–2337 or via email.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 16, 2024 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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