Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01936/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01936-12/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

DARRELL WAYNE KING, 

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

JOHN D. CHOKATOS, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:12-cv-01936-LJO-EPG-PC

SCHEDULING ORDER FOLLOWING 

STATUS CONFERENCE HELD ON 

JULY 26, 2016

ORDER GRANTING IN PART 

DEFENDANT STRINGER’S MOTION TO 

MODIFY SCHEDULING ORDER

(ECF No. 68.)

ORDER FOR DISCOVERY TO PROCEED

FOR CLAIMS AGAINST DEFENDANT 

CHOKATOS, LIMITED TO CLAIMS 

ARISING FROM ALLEGATIONS 

BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 31, 2011

New Discovery Cut-off Deadline: October 19, 2016

New Dispositive Motions Deadline: November 18, 2016

Telephonic Discovery Status Conference: 

October 19, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

Courtroom 10 (EPG)

Notice of Discovery Disputes Due:

October 5, 2016

Settlement Conference:

November 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Courtroom 6 (JLT)

Confidential Settlement Conference

Statements Due: October 26, 2016 

TTCH: June 22, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.

Courtroom 4 (LJO)

Jury Trial: August 22, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.

Courtroom 4 (LJO)

 

 

I. BACKGROUND

Darrell Wayne King (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed this case on 

November 29, 2012. (ECF No. 1.) This case now proceeds on the First Amended Complaint 

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filed on September 2, 2014, with Plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment claims against defendant Dr. 

John D. Chokatos,

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for failure to provide adequate medical care, and for supplemental state law 

claims. (ECF No. 33.) 

Pursuant to the Court’s scheduling order issued on November 16, 2015, the deadline for 

completion of discovery expired on July 16, 2016, and the deadline for the parties to file 

pretrial dispositive motions shall expire on September 26, 2016. (ECF No. 41.)

II. STATUS CONFERENCE

On July 26, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., a telephonic status conference was held before 

Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean. Plaintiff appeared telephonically on his own behalf; 

California Deputy Attorney General Jason A. Braxton appeared telephonically on behalf of 

defendant Stringer; and Kristina D. Gruenberg of Burke, Williams & Sorenson appeared 

telephonically on behalf of defendant Chokatos. The parties discussed discovery issues and a 

litigation schedule for this case. 

A. Defendant Stringer’s Motion to Modify Scheduling Order

On July 13, 2016, defendant Stringer filed a motion to extend the discovery, dispositive 

motions, and expert witness disclosure deadlines, pending the Court’s ruling on Defendants’ 

motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 68.) At the hearing, the Court granted the motion to 

extend discovery and the dispositive motions deadline. The deadline for completion of 

discovery was extended from July 16, 2016 to October 19, 2016, and the deadline for the 

parties to file pretrial dispositive motions was extended from September 26, 2016 to November 

18, 2016. 

The Court stayed the case against defendant Stringer, and the parties were permitted to 

only conduct discovery concerning the claims against defendant Chokatos arising from 

allegations beginning on October 31, 2011, pending a final ruling on the motion for summary 

judgment. 

 

1 On August 5, 2016, the Court issued an order granting defendants’ motion for summary 

judgment based on failure to exhaust and dismissing defendant Michelle I. Stringer from this action. (ECF No. 

72.) Thus, defendant Chokatos is now the sole defendant in this action.

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The Court denied the motion to extend the deadline for disclosure of expert witnesses. 

Plaintiff stated that he believes experts are needed to expose problems with defendant 

Chokatos’ procedures, and he requested appointment of an expert by the Court. The Court 

advised Plaintiff that exceptional reasons must be shown before for such appointment will be 

made. Plaintiff is permitted to file a motion for appointment of an expert if he wishes.

B. Discovery Issues

The parties discussed pending discovery issues. To date, Defendants have taken 

Plaintiff’s deposition and obtained Plaintiff’s medical records. Plaintiff has served discovery 

requests but has not received responses to all of his requests. Plaintiff stated that he requested 

medical records, but has not been provided with any records from 2011. Plaintiff also 

requested copies of policies and procedures. Defense counsel Gruenberg stated that she has 

medical records from 2011 in her possession.

The Court ordered Defendant Chokatos to provide Plaintiff with all of Plaintiff’s 2011-

2012 medical records in Greunberg’s possession, no later than August 5, 2016. The Court also 

ordered Defendant Chokatos to respond to Plaintiff’s pending discovery requests by August 

23, 2016. Limited discovery requests regarding claims against defendant Chokatos, as 

discussed above, shall be served by August 9, 2016, with forty-five days for service of 

responses.

C. Further Scheduling

The Court set out dates and deadlines in this case, as follows:

1. New Deadlines for Discovery and Dispositive Motions

The deadline for completion of discovery was extended from July 16, 2016 to October 

19, 2016, and the deadline for the parties to file pretrial dispositive motions was extended from 

September 26, 2016 to November 18, 2016.

2. Telephonic Discovery Status Conference

A Telephonic Discovery Status Conference is scheduled for October 19, 2016 at 2:00 

p.m. before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean in Courtroom 10. The parties shall file written 

notice to the Court of any discovery disputes no later than October 5, 2016, with responses due

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by October 12, 2016. To join the Telephonic Discovery Status Hearing, the parties shall each 

call the toll-free telephone number (888) 251-2909 and use Access Code 1024453, at 2:00 p.m. 

on October 19, 2016.

3. Settlement Conference

A settlement conference is scheduled for November 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. before 

Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, at the United States Courthouse, 2500 Tulare Street, 

Fresno, California, Seventh Floor, Courtroom 6. The parties’ confidential settlement 

conference statements shall be due one week before the settlement conference, no later than 

October 26, 2016. 

Plaintiff shall appear in person the settlement conference. The Court shall issue a writ 

of habeas corpus ad testificandum to transport Plaintiff to Court for the settlement conference. 

Defense counsel shall appear at the settlement conference in person with full authority 

to negotiate and settle the case on any terms. Government entities may appear through litigation

counsel only, but must have immediate access to the individual with settlement authority. The

failure of any counsel, party or authorized person subject to this order to appear in person may

result in the imposition of sanctions.

Each party shall provide a Confidential Settlement Conference Statement to:

Chambers of Magistrate Judge Jennifer P. Thurston

United States District Court

2500 Tulare Street, Room 1501

Fresno, California 93721

so they are received no later than October 26, 2016, and file a Notice of Submission of the 

Confidential Settlement Conference Statement with the Clerk of the Court (See L.R. 270(d)). 

Settlement statements should not be filed with the Clerk of the 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. The confidential settlement 

statement shall be no longer than five pages in length, typed or neatly printed, and include the 

following: 

///

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(1) 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;

(2) An evaluation of damages expected at trial if Plaintiff prevails on his claims;

(3) An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, 

and trial;

(4) The relief sought;

(5) The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a 

history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands; and

(6) A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement

conference.

4. TTCH and Trial

A Telephonic Trial Confirmation Hearing (TTCH) is scheduled for June 22, 2017 at 

8:30 a.m., and Jury Trial for this case is scheduled to commence on August 22, 2017 at 8:30 

a.m., before the Honorable Lawrence J. O’Neill in Courtroom 4. The parties had no objections

to these dates. 

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Defendant Stringer’s motion to modify the scheduling order, filed on July 13, 

2016, is GRANTED in part;

2. The deadline for completion of discovery, including the filing of motions to 

compel, is extended from July 16, 2016 to October 19, 2016;

4. The deadline for filing pretrial dispositive motions is extended from September 

26, 2016 to November 18, 2016; 

5. The motion for extension of the deadline for expert witness disclosure is 

DENIED;

6. Discovery shall proceed for claims against defendant Chokatos, limited to those 

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claims arising from Plaintiff’s allegations beginning on October 31, 2011;

7. A Telephonic Discovery Status Conference is scheduled for October 19, 2016 

at 2:00 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean in Courtroom 10 at the 

United States District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California. The parties 

shall file written notice to the Court of any discovery disputes no later than 

October 5, 2016, with responses due by October 12, 2016. To join the 

Telephonic Discovery Status Conference, the parties shall each call the toll-free 

telephone number (888) 251-2909 and use Access Code 1024453, at 2:00 p.m. 

on October 19, 2016;

5. A Settlement Conference is scheduled for November 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

before Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, at the United States Courthouse, 

2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California, Seventh Floor, Courtroom 6. The 

parties’ confidential settlement conference statements shall be due one week 

before the settlement conference, no later than October 26, 2016; 

6. A Telephonic Trial Confirmation Hearing (TTCH) is scheduled for June 22, 

2017 at 8:30 a.m. before the Honorable Lawrence J. O’Neill in Courtroom 4;

and

7. Jury Trial for this case is scheduled to commence on August 22, 2017 at 8:30 

a.m., before the Honorable Lawrence J. O’Neill in Courtroom 4.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 18, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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