Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00935/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00935-10/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT MEDINA, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

GUSTAVO MARTINEZ, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00935-KES-EPG (PC)

ORDER REGARDING EARLY 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

Plaintiff Robert Medina, Jr. was confined in Fresno County Jail (FCJ) at the time the 

events giving rise to this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff

proceeds pro se and in forma pauperis on his Eighth Amendment claim against Defendants 

J. Alvarez, Gustavo Martinez, and First-Name-Unknown (FNU) Martinez. While Plaintiff is 

yet to serve Gustavo Martinez and FNU Martinez, Defendant Jose Alvarez has waived service 

(ECF No. 38) and appeared in this action by filing an Answer (ECF No. 37) on October 25, 

2024. 

The Court now directs Plaintiff and Defendant Alvarez to participate in a settlement 

conference before a Magistrate Judge to see if the case can reach an early settlement. Neither 

side is waiving any claims, defenses, or objections by participating in this settlement 

conference. 

Case 1:23-cv-00935-KES-EPG Document 39 Filed 11/07/24 Page 1 of 4
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Defense counsel is directed to consider Plaintiff’s claim and to speak with Plaintiff

following this order.1If, after investigating Plaintiff’s claim and speaking with Plaintiff, and 

conferring with defense counsel’s supervisor, defense counsel in good faith finds that a 

settlement conference would not be productive at this time, defense counsel may opt out of this 

settlement conference by filing a notice (a motion is unnecessary) with the Court, in which case 

the matter will proceed without an early settlement conference.

If defense counsel opts out of the settlement conference, or if the case does not settle at 

the conference, the case will proceed to litigation.2

If defense counsel does not opt out, the Court will issue separate order(s) setting the 

settlement conference and detailing the pre-settlement conference procedures in due course.

If a settlement conference is set, to better inform all parties and have a meaningful 

conference, the Court is requiring that both parties disclose certain documents to each other 

about the case, as listed below. These documents are relevant to the case and will most likely 

be disclosed in discovery shortly if this case proceeds to litigation.3

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Within forty-five days from the date of service of this order, counsel for 

Defendant Alvarez shall either: (1) file a notice stating that Defendant opts out

of the settlement conference; or (2) contact ADR Coordinator Sujean Park 

(spark@caed.uscourts.gov) to schedule the settlement conference. If the 

Defendant does not opt out of the settlement conference, the Court will issue an 

order setting a settlement conference. That order will include the date of the 

conference and the Magistrate Judge who will oversee the conference, and may 

also include procedures required by that Judge.

4

1 The parties may confer by letter.

2

If the case proceeds to a settlement conference, the Court will not schedule the case until after 

the settlement conference is held. 

3

If any party has a legal objection to providing a particular document, that party shall file and 

serve a notice describing its objection.

4 The undersigned will not be the Magistrate Judge overseeing the settlement conference.

Case 1:23-cv-00935-KES-EPG Document 39 Filed 11/07/24 Page 2 of 4
3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2. If a settlement conference is set, no later than fourteen days after the date of 

service of the order setting the settlement conference, each party shall send the 

other parties, or their attorneys (if represented), the documents listed below. The 

parties only need to provide documents related to the claim that the Court 

allowed to proceed past the screening stage. Additionally, defense counsel does 

not need to include any documents that defense counsel believes are confidential 

or subject to the official information privilege. Plaintiff does not need to 

request any documents from the institution at this time. Plaintiff only needs 

to provide these documents if Plaintiff already has them in his or her possession. 

a. Documents regarding exhaustion of Plaintiff’s claims;

b. All non-confidential documents regarding Rules Violation Reports (or 

their equivalent disciplinary reports at FCJ), if any exist, associated with 

the incident(s) alleged in the complaint, including disciplinary charges 

and findings;

c. All of Plaintiff’s medical records related to the incident and/or condition 

at issue in the case, if any exist;

d. Chronos for transfer or Administrative Segregation placement (or their 

FCJ equivalent) related to the incident(s) alleged in the complaint, if any 

exist; and

e. Non-confidential incident reports regarding the use of force incident(s) 

alleged in the complaint, if any exist; 

Additionally, the parties may send any other documents related to the case that 

the parties believe will assist in the settlement conference. However, the parties 

may not request any other documents until discovery has been opened.

//

//

//

//

Case 1:23-cv-00935-KES-EPG Document 39 Filed 11/07/24 Page 3 of 4
4

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3. The parties are reminded to keep the Court informed of their current address.

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 L.R. 182(f).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 7, 2024 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-00935-KES-EPG Document 39 Filed 11/07/24 Page 4 of 4