Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-01433/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-01433-2/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ERIC EL,

Plaintiff,

v. 

T. SOHAL, 

Defendant.

No. 2:23-CV-1433-KJM-DMC-P

ORDER REFERRING CASE TO POSTSCREENING ADR AND STAYING CASE 

FOR 120 DAYS

 Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. An answer has been filed and the case is now at issue. 

 The undersigned is referring all post-screening civil rights cases filed by pro se 

state inmates to Post-Screening Early ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in an effort to 

resolve such cases more expeditiously and less expensively. Defense counsel from the Office of 

the California Attorney General has agreed to participate in Early ADR. No defenses or 

objections shall be waived by their participation. 

 As set forth in the screening order, Plaintiff has stated a potentially cognizable 

civil rights claim. Thus, the Court stays this action for a period of 120 days to allow the parties to 

investigate Plaintiff’s claims, meet and confer, and then participate in a settlement conference. 

/ / /

/ / /

Case 2:23-cv-01433-KJM-DMC Document 17 Filed 11/02/23 Page 1 of 3
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There is a presumption that all post-screening prisoner civil rights cases assigned 

to the undersigned will proceed to settlement conference.1 However, if after investigating 

Plaintiff’s claims and speaking with Plaintiff, and after conferring with defense counsel’s 

supervisor, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference would be a waste of 

resources, defense counsel may move to opt out of Early ADR. A motion to opt out must be filed 

within 30 days of the date of this order. 

Once the settlement conference is scheduled, at least seven days prior to the 

conference, the parties shall submit to the settlement judge a confidential settlement conference 

statement. The parties’ confidential settlement conference statements shall include the following: 

(a) names and locations of the parties; (b) a short statement of the facts and alleged damages; (c) a 

short procedural history; (d) an analysis of the risk of liability, including a discussion of the 

efforts made to investigate the allegations; and (e) a discussion of the efforts that have been made 

to settle the case. Defense counsel shall e-mail the settlement conference statement to the 

settlement judge’s e-mail box for proposed orders, available on the court’s website. Plaintiff shall 

place his settlement conference statement in the U.S. mail addressed to the settlement conference 

judge, United States District Court, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Plaintiff shall mail his 

settlement conference statement so that it is received by the Court at least seven days before the 

settlement conference. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. This action is stayed for 120 days to allow the parties an opportunity to 

settle their dispute before the discovery process begins. Except as provided herein or by 

subsequent court order, no other pleadings or other documents may be filed in this case during the 

stay of this action. The parties shall not engage in formal discovery, but the parties may elect to 

engage in informal discovery. 

2. Within 30 days from the date of this order, Defendants shall file any 

motion to opt out of Post-screening Early ADR. 

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 If the case does not settle, the Court will issue a discovery and scheduling order.

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 3. At least seven days prior to the settlement conference, each party shall 

submit a confidential settlement conference statement, as described above, to the settlement 

judge. Defense counsel shall e-mail the settlement conference statement to the settlement judge’s 

proposed orders e-mail address. Plaintiff shall place his settlement conference statement in the 

U.S. mail addressed to the settlement judge, United States District Court, 501 I Street, 

Sacramento, CA 95814. Plaintiff shall mail his settlement conference statement so that it is 

received by the court at least seven days before the settlement conference. 

 4. If a settlement is reached at any point during the stay of this action, the 

parties shall file a Notice of Settlement in accordance with Local Rule 160. 

 5. The parties remain obligated to keep the court informed of their current 

addresses at all times during the stay and while the action is pending. Any change of address 

must be reported promptly to the court in a separate document captioned for this case and entitled 

“Notice of Change of Address.” See Local Rule 182(f).

Dated: November 1, 2023 

____________________________________ 

DENNIS M. COTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:23-cv-01433-KJM-DMC Document 17 Filed 11/02/23 Page 3 of 3