Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01540/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01540-43/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHANNON WILLIAMS,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:16-cv-01540-DAD-HBK (PC)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE AND PARAMETERS 

Demand Due: October 1, 2024

Response to Demand: October 15, 2024

Settlement Statements Due: Nov. 5, 2024

Settlement Conference: Nov. 19, 2024

CLERK TO PROVIDE COURTESY COPIES

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights 

action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (See Doc. Nos. 1, 8). The Court held a status 

conference on August 22, 2024, and the Parties expressed renewed willingness to participate in a 

settlement conference. (See Doc. No. 176). 

The case is therefore referred to Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean to conduct a 

settlement conference, which is scheduled to occur on November 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. A 

settlement conference is more likely to be productive if, before the conference, the parties 

exchange written settlement proposals prior to the settlement conference. Thus, the Court will 

direct the Parties to respectively exchange a settlement demand and response to demand before 

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the conference.

During the status conference, Plaintiff requested the Court to provide him the docket sheet 

for this case and copies of certain filings given that he is again proceeding pro se. Plaintiff further 

informed the Court that his prior pro bono counsel has not provided him with a copy of his case 

file. The Court will direct the Clerk of Court to provide specified filings. By separate order, the 

Court will direct Plaintiff’s former counsel to mail Plaintiff a copy of his case file, including all

discovery and medical records.

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:

1. A settlement conference is scheduled to occur on November 19, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.,

before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean. The conference shall be conducted via

Zoom videoconference and shall last up to three hours.

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

settlement agreement shall attend.1

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

issue in the case. The failure of any counsel, party, or authorized person subject to this 

order to appear may result in the imposition of sanctions. In addition, the conference 

will not proceed and will be reset to another date.

4. Thus, no later than October 1, 2024, Plaintiff shall submit a written itemization of 

damages and tender a settlement demand to Defendant’s counsel with a brief 

explanation of why such a demand is reasonable and appropriate. No later than 

1 While the exercise of its authority is subject to abuse of discretion review, “the district court has the authority to 

order parties, including the federal government, to participate in mandatory settlement conferences....” United States 

v. United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, 694 F.3d 1051, 1053, 1057, 1059 (9th Cir. 2012) 

(“the district court has broad authority to compel participation in mandatory settlement conference[s].”). The term 

“full authority to settle” means that the individuals attending the mediation conference must be authorized to fully 

explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement terms acceptable to the parties. G. Heileman 

Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648, 653 (7th Cir. 1989), cited with approval in Official Airline 

Guides, Inc. v. Goss, 6 F.3d 1385, 1396 (9th Cir. 1993). The individual with full authority to settle must also have 

“unfettered discretion and authority” to change the settlement position of the party, if appropriate. Pitman v. Brinker 

Int’l., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-86 (D. Ariz. 2003), amended on recon. in part, Pitman v. Brinker Int’l., Inc., 2003 

WL 23353478 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose behind requiring the attendance of a person with full settlement 

authority is that the parties’ view of the case may be altered during the face-to-face conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. 

at 486. An authorization to settle for a limited dollar amount or sum certain can be found not to comply with the 

requirement of full authority to settle. Nick v. Morgan’s Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 596-97 (8th Cir. 2001).

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October 15, 2024, Defendant’s counsel shall submit a written offer to plaintiff’s 

counsel with a brief explanation of why the offer is reasonable and appropriate. On 

occasion, this process will lead directly to settlement. If settlement is not achieved, 

the parties shall include their respective demand and offer letters with their Settlement 

Conference Statements described below.

5. Defendants shall provide a confidential settlement statement no later than November

5, 2024, to the following email address: epgorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall 

mail his confidential settlement statement, clearly captioned “Confidential Settlement 

Conference Statement,” Attn: Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean, United States 

District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Room 1501, Fresno, CA 93721 so that it arrives no 

later than November 5, 2024. The Parties shall also file a Notice of Submission of 

Confidential Settlement Conference Statement (see Local Rule 270(d)).

6. Settlement statements should not be filed with the Clerk of Court nor served on any 

other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly marked “confidential” with the 

date and time of the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.

7. 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 the party’s expectations and goals for the settlement 

conference, including how much the party is willing to accept and/or willing to 

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pay.

f. If the parties intend to discuss the joint settlement of any other actions or claims 

not in this suit, a brief description of each action or claim as set forth above, 

including case number(s) if applicable.

8. The Clerk of Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the Litigation Office at 

United States Penitentiary – McCreary.

9. The Clerk of Court is directed to mail to Plaintiff a courtesy copy of the docket 

sheet, as well as copies of Doc. Nos. 92, 98, 99, 111, 114, 128, 129, 132, 135, 138, 

141, 145, 146, 157, 161, 164, 165, and 170.

10. By separate order, the Court will direct Plaintiff’s former counsel, Carter C. White, to 

provide Plaintiff with a copy of his case file, including all discovery and medical 

records.

Dated: August 23, 2024 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Cc: Felicia Navarro, CRD

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