Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01350/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01350-12/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

NATHANIEL MARCUS GANN,

Plaintiff,

v.

UGWUEZE, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:19-cv-01350-JLT-BAK (EPG) (PC)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE AND PROCEDURES

Plaintiff Nathaniel Marcus Gann is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. All deadlines concerning 

discovery and motions have passed and the court directed the parties to participate in a settlement 

conference. (ECF No. 45.) Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Sheila K. 

Oberto to conduct a settlement conference on November 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The settlement 

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

conference.1 

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

1. The Court SETS a telephonic pre-settlement conference for November 9, 2022, at 

2:00 p.m., before Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto to discuss whether the settlement 

conference will be productive. Defense counsel shall arrange for Plaintiff’s 

1The Court will notify the parties in advance if the settlement conference will proceed by other means.

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participation. The parties shall dial 1-888-557-8511 and enter access code 6208204# 

for the telephonic conference. 

2. The settlement conference is set for November 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before 

Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto and will be conducted over Zoom. Defense counsel 

shall arrange for Plaintiff’s participation. Prior to the conference, defense counsel 

shall contact Judge Oberto’s courtroom deputy via email at 

wkusamura@caed.uscourts.gov for the Zoom videoconference connection 

information. The Court will issue a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum to allow 

for Plaintiff’s participation, as appropriate.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The parties shall engage in informal settlement negotiations as follows: 

No later than October 4, 2022, Plaintiff shall submit to Defendants, by mail, 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 October 18, 2022, Defendants shall respond, by mail or telephone, 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.

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

settlement conference statements no later than November 1, 2022. Defendants shall 

email their statement to skoorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his 

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statement, clearly captioned “Confidential Settlement Conference Statement,” to 

United States District Court, Attn: Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto, 2500 Tulare 

Street, Room 1501, Fresno, CA 93721. 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.

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

length and include:

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

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

including names and, if appropriate, titles; and,

g. 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.

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8. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the Litigation Office at 

the California Institution for Men via facsimile at (909) 606-7093 or via email. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 11, 2022 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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