Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01797/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01797-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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WHITE v. LIZARRAGA, Case No. 2:14-cv-01797-JKS 

Stipulation and Briefing Schedule Page 1 of 3 

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Benjamin Ramos, State Bar No.:156643 

705 E. Bidwell, Suite 2-359 

Folsom, CA 95630 

Telephone: (916) 358-9842 

Facsimile: (916) 358-9843 

Email: benjamin_ramos@comcast.net 

Attorney for Petitioner, MATTHEW WHITE 

Peter H. Smith, Deputy Attorney General 

Attorney General's Office for the State of California 

Criminal/AWT 

P.O. Box 944255 

1300 I Street, Suite 1101 

Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 

(916) 324-5114 

Fax: (916) 324-2960 

Email: peter.smith@doj.ca.gov 

Attorney for Respondent, JOE LIZARRAGA 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MATTHEW DOUGLAS WHITE, 

 Petitioner, 

vs. 

JOE LIZARRAGA. WARDEN, 

 Respondent. 

Case No.: 2:14-cv-01797-JKS 

STIPULATION, PROPOSED BRIEFING 

SCHEDULE AND ORDER 

 

COMES NOW the parties to this action by and through their respective counsel (referred 

to collectively hereafter as counsel) and submit the proposed stipulation and briefing 

schedule in this matter as set forth below. 

Case 2:14-cv-01797-JKS-EFB Document 24 Filed 04/20/16 Page 1 of 3
WHITE v. LIZARRAGA, Case No. 2:14-cv-01797-JKS 

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Pursuant to the Court's December 8, 2015 Memorandum Decision and Order, the parties 

to this action, through counsel, previously submitted a statement and discovery plan 

pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 26(f). Pursuant to that plan, the parties 

have taken the depositions of San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney, Jeffrey 

Conley and Michael Platt, Attorney at Law. 

 Counsel believe that in addition to the evidence in the record before the Court, the 

additional deposition testimony of Mr. Conley and Mr. Platt provide sufficient facts for 

the Court to rule on the pending ineffective assistance of counsel issue, i.e., whether 

Deputy District Attorney Conley made any 10-year plea-bargain offers to resolve the case 

to Mr. Platt, and whether Mr. Platt communicated those offers to petitioner. 

 Moreover, Mr. Conley’s deposition testimony addressed the prejudice element of 

petitioner’s claim and established that Mr. Conley had full, independent legal authority to 

settle the case, and he was not aware of a judge ever interfering with a settlement in his 

office in a drunk-driving case involving a fatality. Mr. Conley believed the settlement of 

this case on a 10-year plea would have been approved by the superior court. 

 Accordingly, counsel stipulate to submit this matter to the Court for decision 

based on the record and the additional deposition testimony and exhibits of Mr. Conley 

and Mr. Platt, unless the Court finds, after reviewing the briefs and evidence, that 

additional discovery or deposition testimony is necessary, in which case counsel agree to 

seek such additional discovery. 

 Counsel submit the following proposed briefing schedule: 

Case 2:14-cv-01797-JKS-EFB Document 24 Filed 04/20/16 Page 2 of 3
WHITE v. LIZARRAGA, Case No. 2:14-cv-01797-JKS 

Stipulation and Briefing Schedule Page 3 of 3 

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 Petitioner’s opening brief due within 30 days of April 10, or by May 10, 2016; 

 Respondent’s brief due within 30 days after that date, or by June 10, 2016; 

 Petitioner’s reply brief due within 15 calendar days after the filing of respondent’s 

 brief. 

 The parties have also discussed the possibility of settlement, and Mr. Conley 

stated in his deposition that his office has "no opinion" concerning the possibility of 

settlement of this matter, but counsel for respondent has contacted San Joaquin County 

Chief Deputy District Attorney Scott Fichtner for his input regarding a settlement by 

retroactively offering the 10-year plea-bargain previously offered, and counsel are 

awaiting Mr. Fichtner’s response. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Dated: April 6, 2016     /s/  Benjamin Ramos      _____________________

     Benjamin Ramos, Attorney for Petitioner, 

 MATTHEW DOUGLASS WHITE 

Respectfully submitted, 

Dated: April 6, 2016     /s/ Peter Smith                    ________________

Attorney for Respondent, JOE LIZARRAGA 

ORDER 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: April 20, 2016.          /s/  James K. Singleton________________         

     JAMES K. SINGLETON, JR. 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 2:14-cv-01797-JKS-EFB Document 24 Filed 04/20/16 Page 3 of 3