Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-01130/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-01130-15/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

ANTONIO GUTIERREZ, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

M. SANDOVAL,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:20-cv-01130-JLT-EPG (PC)

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE VIA ZOOM

Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker

June 27, 2024 at 10:00 am

Plaintiff Antonio Gutierrez, Jr. is proceeding in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Court has determined that this case will benefit from a 

settlement conference. Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Christopher D. 

Baker to conduct a settlement conference on June 27, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The settlement 

conference will be conducted by remote means, with all parties appearing by Zoom video 

conference. The Court will issue the necessary transportation order in due course.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Christopher D. 

Baker on June 27, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The settlement conference will be conducted by 

remote means, with all parties appearing by Zoom video conference. The Zoom 

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settlement conference invitation will be distributed the week prior, or counsel may 

contact Susan Hall, Courtroom Deputy for Magistrate Judge Baker, at 

SHall@caed.uscourts.gov. Any difficulties concerning the Zoom video conference, or 

connecting to the Zoom video conference, shall immediately be reported to Susan 

Hall. The Court will issue a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum to allow for 

Plaintiff’s participation, as appropriate.

2. Each party or a representative with full authority to negotiate and enter into a binding 

settlement agreement shall participate in the conference. The failure of any counsel, 

party, or authorized person subject to this order to participate in the conference may 

result in the imposition of sanctions.

3. Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires thorough preparation prior 

to the settlement conference. Participants in the conference must be prepared to 

discuss the claims, defenses, and damages.

4. If parties have not already engaged in informal settlement negotiations, parties shall do 

so as follows: No later than May 30, 2024, Plaintiff shall submit to Defendant a 

written itemization of damages and a meaningful settlement demand, including a brief 

explanation of why such settlement is appropriate, which shall not exceed 5 pages. No 

later than June 6, 2024, Defendant shall respond with an acceptance of Plaintiff’s 

offer or a meaningful counteroffer, including a brief explanation of why such 

settlement is appropriate. If settlement is achieved, the parties shall file a Notice of 

Settlement as required by Local Rule 160.

5. If settlement is not achieved informally, the parties shall submit confidential 

settlement conference statements no later than June 13, 2024 via email to 

CDBorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Once the parties have submitted their statements, they 

shall file a “Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement” 

with the Court. The confidential settlement conference statements themselves should 

not be filed with the Court nor served on the opposing party.

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6. The confidential settlement conference statements should be no longer than 5 pages in 

length and include:

a. A brief statement of the facts of the case;

b. A brief statement of the claims and defenses of the case, i.e., the statutory, 

constitutional, or other grounds upon which the claims are founded;

c. A forthright discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the case and an 

evaluation of the likelihood of prevailing on the claims or defenses, from the 

party’s perspective, and a description of the major issues in dispute;

d. An estimate of the party’s expected costs and time to be expended for further 

discovery, pretrial matters, and trial;

e. A summary of past settlement discussions, including the informal settlement 

negotiations required above; a statement of the party’s current position on 

settlement, including the amount the party would offer and accept to settle (in 

specific dollar amounts); and a statement of the party’s expectations for settlement 

discussions;

f. An estimate of any restitution allocated to Plaintiff, or other financial obligation 

assigned to Plaintiff, that would affect the parties’ settlement discussions;

g. A list of the individuals who will be attending the conference on the party’s behalf, 

including names and, if appropriate, titles; and,

h. If a party intends to discuss the settlement of any other actions or claims not raised 

in this suit, a brief description of each action or claim, including case number(s), as

applicable.

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7. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order via fax on the 

Litigation Office at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison at (760) 92–6855 or via email.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 25, 2024 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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