Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01122/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-01122-7/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

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE AND SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE PROCEDURES

Settlement Conference: November 5, 2024, 

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. The Court has determined that this case will benefit from a 

settlement conference. Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto 

to conduct a settlement conference on November 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. 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 October 29, 2024, at 4:00 

p.m. 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 November 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.,

Case 1:22-cv-01122-KES-CDB Document 35 Filed 09/11/24 Page 1 of 4
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before Magistrate Judge Oberto, via Zoom videoconference. Defense counsel shall 

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

contact Magistrate 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.

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

No later than October 1, 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.

No later than October 15, 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 October 29, 2024. 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.

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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. 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.

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8. 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: September 11, 2024 ___________________ _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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