Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00984/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00984-2/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

Plaintiff Reginald Johnson is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

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 form the California State Attorney 

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

As set forth in the screening order, Plaintiff has stated a cognizable civil rights claim. But, 

stating a cognizable claim does not mean Plaintiff will prevail at trial. Thus, the Court stays this 

action for a period of 75 days to allow the parties to investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and confer, 

and then participate in a settlement conference. 

REGINALD JOHNSON,

 Plaintiff,

v.

STUART SHERMAN, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:19-cv-00984-SAB (PC)

ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE FOR 

75 DAYS 

Date: April 7, 2020

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Place: Courtroom 8 (BAM) Before the Honorable 

Barbara A. McAuliffe

Case 1:19-cv-00984-SAB Document 18 Filed 01/31/20 Page 1 of 4
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Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe to conduct a 

settlement conference at the United States Courthouse in Fresno, California on May 16, 2019 at 9:30 

a.m. The Court will issue the necessary transportation order in due course. 

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 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 prior (one week) 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 the of the case itself is to each side, irrespective of any 

outstanding restitution obligation.

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

1. This action is STAYED for 75 days to allow the parties an opportunity to settle their 

dispute before the 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 is informal discovery to prepare for the settlement conference.

2. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. 

McAuliffe on April 7, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse located at 

2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California.

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

settlement shall attend in person.

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

 

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

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The failure 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. Defendants 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 March 30, 2020. 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 Aconfidential@ 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:

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.

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f. If the 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 the 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. 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).

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

court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 31, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-00984-SAB Document 18 Filed 01/31/20 Page 4 of 4