Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00290/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00290-16/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 Durrell A. Puckett is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Both parties have consented to United States magistrate judge 

jurisdiction. (ECF No. 46.) 

On April 14, 2016, Plaintiff filed a motion for settlement negotiations prior to trial. (ECF No. 

54.) The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorize settlement discussions at any pretrial conference. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(c)(I). While federal courts have the authority to require the parties to engage in 

settlement conferences, they have no authority to coerce settlements. Goss Graphic Systems, Inc. v. 

DEV Industries, Inc., 267 F.3d 624, 627 (7th Cir. 2001). 

The Court will set a settlement conference in cases such as this only if both sides believe one 

will be beneficial. In as much as Defendants have not joined in Plaintiff’s motion, it shall be denied 

DURRELL A. PUCKETT,

 Plaintiff,

v.

K. BRANDON,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:14-cv-00290-SAB (PC)

ORDER DENYING, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, 

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

[ECF No. 54]

Case 1:14-cv-00290-SAB Document 57 Filed 04/15/16 Page 1 of 2
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without prejudice. If all parties agree that a settlement conference would be beneficial in this action, 

the parties may file a joint request for a settlement conference to be set.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 15, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00290-SAB Document 57 Filed 04/15/16 Page 2 of 2