Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-04842/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-04842-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VANCE S. ELLIOTT,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

SAN FRANCISCO RENT

STABILIZATION AND

ARBITRATION BOARD, 

 Defendant.

_____________________________/

No. C 06-4842 SBA (WDB)

and Related Case Nos.

 C 07-4446 SBA (WDB)

 MC 07-80166 SBA (WDB)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

On April 4, 2007, District Judge Armstrong ordered the parties in the lead action (C06-

4842 SBA) to participate in a settlement conference between January 9 and January 18, 2008.

Pursuant to that Order, the undersigned caused to be issued a Clerk’s Notice of Settlement

Conference, dated October 10, 2007, which included the following orders to the parties and their

lawyers: (1) by no later than January 8, 2008, lodge with the undersigned a Confidential

Settlement Conference Statement and (2) through lead trial counsel and a representative of the

client who has full authority to negotiate and settle the case, appear at the settlement conference

in Courtroom 4 of the federal courthouse in Oakland, California, on January 17, 2008. Per order

dated October 10, 2007, District Judge Armstrong referred the related actions (C07-4446 SBA

and former miscellaneous action C07-mc-80166 SBA (terminated on 8/28/07)) to the

undersigned for a settlement conference. 

Case 4:06-cv-04842-SBA Document 42 Filed 01/18/08 Page 1 of 4
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On October 17, 2007, Plaintiff Vance S. Elliott, appearing pro se, filed, but did not serve,

a Motion to Withdraw from the Court-ordered settlement conference. Mr. Elliott’s attempt to

withdraw from the required settlement conference was ineffective: Mr. Elliott did not appear to

serve his Motion to Withdraw on defense counsel, he did not seek an order vacating the

settlement conference, and he was not excused from appearing.

By a subsequent Clerk’s Notice dated October 26, 2007, the settlement conference in the

related cases was duly noticed for January 17, 2008, and notification was mailed to Mr. Elliott.

In that notice, the clerk of this Court noted that Mr. Elliott filed a motion to withdraw, and noted

that he “may be excused from the settlement conference only by order of the Court.” On January

17, 2008, defendants and their attorney appeared for the settlement conference; Mr. Elliott did

not appear. Nor did Mr. Elliott lodge a confidential statement in advance of the settlement

conference. Earlier this week, because Mr. Elliott had not submitted a settlement conference

statement, the clerk of the Court considered contacting Mr. Elliott but could not do so because

he did not provide the Court with a telephone number where he could be reached.

The Court is aware that Mr. Elliott is representing himself and does not have the benefit

of legal counsel. However, when the Court orders the parties to submit statements and appear

in Court, it is foreseeable that defendant and defense counsel would expend the necessary time

and resources to submit the required statements and make the required appearances. When

plaintiff fails to do so, it is foreseeable that his failure to comply with the Court’s orders would

result in defendant wasting time and resources and incurring fees and expenses unjustifiably.

Given the matters described in the preceding paragraphs, the Court hereby ORDERS

plaintiff Vance S. Elliott TO SHOW CAUSE WHY HE SHOULD NOT BE SANCTIONED

FOR (1) failing to submit a confidential statement, and (2) failing to appear at the settlement

conference. In response to this Order, Mr. Elliott shall do the following:

1. By February 8, 2008, Mr. Elliott must file and serve on defense counsel a writing

that explains in detail why, without permission from the Court, he did not submit

a confidential written settlement conference statement and why he did not appear

at the Court-ordered settlement conference;

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2. Mr. Elliott must appear at 1:00 p.m., on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008, in

Courtroom 4 of the United States Courthouse in Oakland, California, to address

the Court’s questions and concerns. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 18, 2008

 

WAYNE D. BRAZIL

United States Magistrate Judge

cc: Vance S. Elliott, Pro Per

Sherri Sokeland Kaiser, Office of the City Attorney

SBA

Case 4:06-cv-04842-SBA Document 42 Filed 01/18/08 Page 3 of 4
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VANCE S. ELLIOTT,

Plaintiff,

 v.

SAN FRANCISCO RENT

STABILIZATION AND ARBITRATION

BOARD,

Defendant. /

Case Number: C06-4842 SBA (WDB) 

 C07-04446 SBA (WDB)

 MC 07-80166 SBA (WDB)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that on January 18, 2008, I SERVED a true and correct

copy(ies) of the attached Order to Show Cause, by placing said copy(ies) in a postage

paid envelope addressed to each of the persons hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Sherri Sokeland Kaiser

Office of the City Attorney

#1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

City Hall, Room 234

San Francisco, CA 94102-4682

Vance S. Elliott

The Baldwin House #227

74 Sixth Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Dated: January 18, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

United States District Court

__________________________

By: Hera Kim

Law Clerk/ Deputy Clerk

Case 4:06-cv-04842-SBA Document 42 Filed 01/18/08 Page 4 of 4