Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01499/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01499-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JASON AMICO,

Plaintiff,

v.

IDALBERTO ZALDIVAR-GALVES,

Defendant.

No. 1:22-cv-01499-SAB (PC)

ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE

Hearing: Settlement Conference

Date: November 2, 2023

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Judge: Barbara A. McAuliffe

Location: via Zoom Videoconference

Plaintiff Jason Amico is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Because it takes years to get to trial, the Court has identified this case as an appropriate case 

for post-screening ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), which is an effort to resolve such cases 

more expeditiously and less expensively. No claims, defenses, or objections shall be waived by 

the parties’ participation. In appropriate cases, defense counsel from the California State Attorney 

General’s Office has agreed to participate in these early settlements.

As set forth in the Court’s screening order, the complaint states a cognizable claim. 

However, stating cognizable claims does not mean Plaintiff will prevail at trial. Thus, the Court 

stays this action to allow the parties to investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and confer, and then 

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participate in a settlement conference.

Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe to conduct 

a video settlement conference, via the Zoom videoconferencing application, on November 2, 

2023, at 9:30 a.m. The Court will issue any necessary transportation order in due course.

Counsel for Defendant shall contact Courtroom Deputy Esther Valdez at (559) 499-5788 or

evaldez@caed.uscourts.gov for the video and dial-in information, including any necessary 

passcodes, for all parties. Counsel for Defendant is also required to arrange for Plaintiff’s 

participation by contacting the Litigation Coordinator at the institution where Plaintiff is housed 

and providing the necessary Zoom contact information.

In issuing this order, there is a presumption that this case will proceed to a settlement 

conference.1 However, if after investigating Plaintiff’s claims and speaking with Plaintiff, and after 

conferring with others, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference would be a 

waste of resources, defense counsel may move to opt out of this early settlement conference. A 

written notice to opt out must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of the issuance of this 

order.

The parties shall each submit to Judge McAuliffe a confidential settlement conference 

statement, as described below, to arrive at least seven days (one week) prior to the conference.

The Court puts the parties on notice that if Plaintiff has any outstanding criminal restitution 

obligation, fines and/or penalties, these settlement negotiations shall not be geared towards what 

the restitution obligation is, but what the value of the case itself is to each side, irrespective of any 

outstanding restitution obligation.

If Defendant does not elect to opt out of the settlement conference, Defendant shall be 

prepared to negotiate the merits of the case and offer more than a waiver of costs as a reasonable 

compromise to settle the case. The parties are also informed that an offer of dismissal in exchange 

for a waiver of costs is not considered good faith settlement negotiations.

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

1. This action is STAYED to allow the parties an opportunity to settle their dispute before the 

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If the case does not settle, the Court will then issue the Discovery and Scheduling Order.

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discovery process begins. Except as provided herein or by subsequent court order, no other 

pleadings or other documents may be filed in this case during the stay of this action. The 

parties shall not engage in formal discovery, but may engage in informal discovery to 

prepare for the settlement conference.

2. This case is set for a video settlement conference, via the Zoom videoconferencing 

application, before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on November 2, 2023 at 9:30 

a.m.

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

settlement shall attend via the Zoom videoconferencing application.

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4. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages. The 

failure or refusal of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear 

in person may result in the cancellation of the conference and the imposition of sanctions. 

The manner and timing of Plaintiff’s transportation to and from the conference is within the 

discretion of CDCR.

5. Defendant shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email address: 

bamorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his confidential settlement statement 

to U.S. District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California 93721, “Attention: 

Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe.” The envelope shall be marked “Confidential 

Settlement Statement.” Settlement statements shall arrive no later than October 26, 2023. 

Parties shall also file a Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Statement (See 

Local Rule 270(d)). 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.

6. The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length, typed 

or neatly printed, and include the following:

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In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the evolving coronavirus protocols, the Court may issue an 

order at a later date requiring the parties to appear in person.

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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 

prevailing on the claims and defenses; and a description of the major issues in 

dispute.

c. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, and 

trial.

d. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a 

history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands.

e. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement 

conference, including how much a party is willing to accept and/or willing to pay.

f. If parties intend to discuss the joint settlement of any other actions or claims not in 

this suit, give a brief description of each action or claim as set forth above, including 

case number(s) if applicable.

7. If a settlement is reached at any point during the stay of this action, the parties shall file a 

Notice of Settlement in accordance with Local Rule 160.

8. If defense counsel wishes to “opt-out” of this settlement for the reasons stated above, 

counsel must do so within thirty (30) days of this order by filing a “Notice of Opt-Out and 

Request to Vacate Settlement Conference.”

9. If defense counsel does not wish to opt-out, defense counsel shall contact the Litigation 

Coordinator at the institution where Plaintiff is housed to determine whether the 

institution can accommodate a Zoom video appearance by Plaintiff at this date and 

time.

10. The parties remain obligated to keep the Court informed of their current address at all times 

during the stay and while the action is pending. Any change of address must be reported 

promptly to the Court in a separate document captioned for this case and entitled “Notice 

of Change of Address.” See Local Rule 182(f).

///

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11. A failure to follow these procedures may result in the imposition of sanctions by the 

court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 22, 2023 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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