Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01122/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01122-9/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

DEVONTE FIELDS,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. SANCHEZ, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 1:22-cv-01122-KES-CDB

AMENDED ORDER CONTINUING AND 

RESETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE AND SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE PROCEDURES

Settlement Conference: 1/30/25 at 10:30 a.m.

via Zoom Videoconference, before 

Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto

Plaintiff Devonte Fields is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

I. INTRODUCTION

On September 11, 2024, the Court issued its Order Setting Settlement Conference and 

Settlement Conference Procedures, scheduling a telephonic pre-settlement conference and 

settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto. (Doc. 35.) 

On October 29, 2024, Judge Oberto conducted a telephonic pre-settlement conference 

with the parties. (Doc. 43 [minutes].) After discussing the matter, Judge Oberto determined a 

settlement conference at this stage of the proceedings would be premature. Further, Judge Oberto 

advised the parties that the settlement conference set for November 5, 2024, would not go 

forward and would instead be continued to a date in January or February 2025, to allow the 

parties to further meet and confer about the possibility of settlement. 

Case 1:22-cv-01122-KES-CDB Document 44 Filed 10/31/24 Page 1 of 4
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Therefore, this Court will set a settlement conference for January 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., 

before Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto. The settlement conference will be conducted by 

remote means, with all parties appearing by Zoom videoconference. 

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:

1. The Court SETS a telephonic pre-settlement conference for January 23, 2025, at 

4:00 p.m., before Judge Oberto. Defense counsel shall contact Magistrate Judge 

Oberto’s courtroom deputy at wkusamura@caed.uscourts.gov for the phone number 

and access code and arrange for Plaintiff’s participation. 

2. A settlement conference is scheduled to occur on January 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.,

before Magistrate Judge Oberto, via Zoom videoconference. Defense counsel shall 

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

contact Judge Oberto’s courtroom deputy 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.1

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

No later than December 17, 2024, 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.

1 Plaintiff is advised that during the settlement conference, Judge Oberto will initially meet with both parties before 

moving into “breakout” or private rooms (within the Zoom videoconferencing platform) with each party. Each

party – Plaintiff and defense counsel – will have an opportunity to discuss the case and their position separately with 

the judge. Judge Oberto will continue to conduct breakout sessions and to convey any demands and/or offers until a 

settlement is reached, or she determines further settlement efforts would not be helpful or productive. 

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No later than December 31, 2024, 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 January 16, 2025. Defendants shall 

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

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 

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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.

8. The stay of this action is extended to January 31, 2025.

9. Plaintiff is ADVISED he may submit a motion for the appointment of counsel 

and/or a motion for a competency determination, for the assigned magistrate 

judge’s consideration and ruling, despite the extended stay. No other type of 

motion may be filed or submitted during the stay of these proceedings. Plaintiff 

should submit any motion for the appointment of counsel and/or motion for a 

competency determination as soon as possible to the allow the undersigned 

sufficient time to issue a ruling in advance of the settlement conference. 

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

at California State Prison, Corcoran via facsimile at (559) 992-7372 or via email. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 31, 2024 ___________________ _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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