Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-04011/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-04011-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD WERTH, LLP

180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1200 Telephone (415) 697-2000

San Francisco, California 94104 Facsimile (415) 813-2045

E-Mail kallen@aghwlaw.com 

64496.1

ATTORNEYS

&

September 30, 2015

Hon. Maria-Elena James

ADR Magistrate Judge

US District Court-Northern District 

Courtroom B - 15th Floor

450 Golden Gate Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

Re: Velarde v. City Of Union City et al.

United States District Court (Northern District) Case No.: 3:13-cv-04011-EMC

Dear Judge James:

Pursuant to ADR Local Rule 6-10(d), certain defendants respectfully request that they be

excused or otherwise permitted to attend the above-referenced mandatory settlement conference

by telephone standby. The settlement conference is scheduled to take place on Wednesday

October 14, 2015, 10:00 a.m. before your honor at the San Francisco Federal Courthouse, 450 

Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. 

There are 18 individual defendants in this case (as well as defendants Union City and the

Union City Police Department). 16 of those 18 defendants request to be excused from personal 

attendance: (1) Officer Gannam; (2) Officer Baumgartner; (3) Corporal Mahaney; (4) Officer 

Dejong; (5) Officer Martin; (6) Sgt. Martin; (7) Officer Cota; (8) Officer Lentz; (9) Officer 

Clubb; (10) Officer Kensic; (11) Officer Shansab; (12) Officer Turbyfill; (13) Officer Fraga; (14) 

PTO Perez; (15) Chief Stewart; (16) City Manager Cheeves. 

Union City is a smaller police department that may not be able to provide full staffing 

and back-up for the purpose of public safety if so many officers and command staff are in San 

Francisco for the mediation. 

Counsel for Defendants, Dale L. Allen, will attend the mediation in person, along with

Steven Kochly of York Risk Services, Captain Gloria Lopez-Vaughn, and Commander Ben 

Horner (ret.) for the City and the Department’s representatives for the settlement conference. 

Case 3:13-cv-04011-JD Document 40 Filed 10/01/15 Page 1 of 3
Hon. Maria-Elena James

RE: Velarde v. City Of Union City et al.

September 30, 2015

Page 2

64496.1

As to the amount in controversy, Defendants are aware that Plaintiffs’ Complaint 

generally seeks unspecified general and compensatory damages. 

Under ADR Local Rule 6-10(d)(3), I attempted to meet and confer by email with a 

request to a stipulation for the excused appearances. At the time of the filing of the letter I had 

not yet heard back from counsel so I am filing the letter in order to comply with the mandatory 

deadline for the request. I will supplement the letter with counsels’ response if there is an 

objection. Also be advised a request for dismissal of 9 of the defendants is pending. 

Thank you for considering this request. 

Very truly yours,

ALLEN, GLAESSNER, HAZELWOOD & 

WERTH, LLP

/s/ Kevin P. Allen

Kevin P. Allen

kallen@aghwlaw.com

cc: Jannik P. Catalano, Counsel for Plaintiffs

James Farinaro, Counsel for Plaintiffs

Eloy I. Trujillo, Counsel for Plaintiffs

Alice M. Fiel, ADR Case Administrator

(via E-Mail: Alice_Fiel@cand.uscourts.gov)

Case 3:13-cv-04011-JD Document 40 Filed 10/01/15 Page 2 of 3
Hon. Maria-Elena James

RE: Velarde v. City Of Union City et al.

September 30, 2015

Page 2

64496.1

[PROPOSED] ORDER

The following defendants are hereby allowed to appear at the October 14, 2015

mandatory settlement conference by telephone standby:

(1) Officer Gannam; 

(2) Officer Baumgartner; 

(3) Corporal Mahaney; 

(4) Officer Dejong; 

(5) Officer Martin; 

(6) Sgt. Martin; 

(7) Officer Cota; 

(8) Officer Lentz; 

(9) Officer Clubb; 

(10) Officer Kensic; 

(11) Officer Shansab; 

(12) Officer Turbyfill; 

(13) Officer Fraga; 

(14) PTO Perez; 

(15) Chief Stewart; 

(16) Lt. Gloria Lopez-Vaughn; and 

(17) City Manager Cheeves. 

Dated: _______________ __________________________________________

Honorable Maria-Elena James

Magistrate Judge

October 1, 2015

IT IS SO ORDERED. The Defendants that 

are crossed out have been dismissed without 

prejudice pursuant to Judge Donato's Order. 

See Docket No. 39.

Case 3:13-cv-04011-JD Document 40 Filed 10/01/15 Page 3 of 3