Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_12-cv-04268/USCOURTS-cand-3_12-cv-04268-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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EDRINGTON, SCHIRMER & MURPHY LLP

PETER P. EDRINGTON ATTORNEYS AT LAW

THE TERRACES

2300 CONTRA COSTA BOULEVARD, SUITE 450

PLEASANT HILL, CALIFORNIA 94523-3936

TEL (925) 827-3300

FAX (925) 827-3320

KEITH R. SCHIRMER

TIMOTHY P. MURPHY

JAMES M. MARZAN

DOLORES M. DONOHOE

OWEN T. ROONEY

NANCY A. McPHERSON

VANCE R. WILLIAMS

JULIA LEVITSKAIA

CODY LEE SAAL

JAMES HUAN LY

GARY M. LEPPER

OF COUNSEL

June 19, 2015

Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero

Chief Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

Northern District of California

450 Golden Gate Avenue

San Francisco CA 94102

Re: Mitchell Katz v. County of Contra Costa, et al.

Case No. 3:11-cv-05771 CRB

Hasan Aksu v. County of Contra Costa, et al.

Case No. 3:12-cv-04268 CRB

Dear Magistrate Judge Spero:

Defendant Stephen Tanabe is seeking to continue the July 8, 2015 settlement

conference to an agreeable date in September in light of the outcome of settlement

discussions in Bauldry v. County of Contra Costa, et al. (Case No. 3:12-cv-03943-CRB)

on May 27, 2015 and Tanabe’s pending appeal and motion to stay district court

proceedings in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Alternatively, Tanabe requests that he

and a Contra Costa County representative with settlement authority be excused from the

July 8, 2015 conference.

In this case, plaintiff Mitchell Katz and plaintiff Hasan Arda Aksu (“plaintiffs”)

assert a variety of claims arising out of their arrest by Tanabe for driving under the

influence of alcohol. Significantly, only plaintiffs’ section 1983 claims under the Fourth

and Fourteenth Amendments and related federal conspiracy claims provide for an award

of attorneys’ fees. These claims are currently on appeal before the Ninth Circuit based on

Tanabe’s assertion of qualified immunity. Tanabe recently filed motions with the Ninth

Circuit requesting a stay of the proceedings before Judge Breyer as to these claims

pending the outcome of his appeals. The Ninth Circuit has not yet ruled on these

motions. For these reasons, it is premature to hold a settlement conference in these cases

on July 8, 2015.

Case 3:12-cv-04268-CRB Document 105 Filed 06/25/15 Page 1 of 2
Hon. Joseph C. Spero June 19, 2015

Re: Katz v. CCC

USDC Case No. 3:11-cv-05771 CRB

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In the related case of Bauldry, both Tanabe and a representative from Contra

Costa County with settlement authority were present at the settlement conference. There

was no settlement reached at that time. Without going into the substance of the

discussions at that settlement conference, it is Tanabe’s belief that the settlement

discussions in Bauldry were unsuccessful because of the pending appeal in the Ninth

Circuit related to the federal claims. Notably, in that case, as in these cases, the most

significant element of damages are the claims for attorneys’ fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§ 1988. Tanabe now anticipates the same impediments to settlement in Bauldry will

preclude successful settlement discussions in Katz and Aksu.

Tanabe proposes that the Court continue the settlement conference until the Ninth

Circuit resolves Tanabe’s motion for an order to stay district court proceedings. Tanabe

previously requested that plaintiffs stipulate to this continuance, but plaintiffs’ counsel

(Brian Gearinger) expressed plaintiffs’ preference to proceed with the conference as

scheduled and confirmed same in a telephone conversation today. To the extent that the

other defendants involved in these cases are interested in continuing with the scheduled

settlement conference, Tanabe alternatively requests that he and the Contra Costa County

representative be excused from attending the conference on July 8, 2015.

Respectfully submitted,

EDRINGTON SCHIRMER & MURPHY LLP

/s/ Julia Levitskaia___________________

Keith R. Schirmer

Julia Levitskaia

Attorneys for Defendant STEPHEN TANABE

JL:gh

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORN

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DENIED

Judge Joseph C. Spero

Dated: June 25, 2015

Case 3:12-cv-04268-CRB Document 105 Filed 06/25/15 Page 2 of 2