Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-01130/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-01130-3/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(s).

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

ORDER REGARDING EARLY SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

Antonio Gutierrez, Jr. (“Plaintiff”), is a state prisoner proceeding in forma pauperis in 

this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which includes a state law claim. The 

Court has screened Plaintiff’s complaint and found it states at least one cognizable claim. At 

least one defendant has filed an answer.

The Court now directs the parties to participate in a settlement conference before a 

Magistrate Judge to see if the case can reach an early settlement. Neither side is waiving any 

claims, defenses, or objections by participating in this settlement conference. 

Defense counsel is directed to consider Plaintiff’s claim(s) and to speak with Plaintiff’s

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counsel following this order. If, after investigating Plaintiff’s claim(s) and speaking with 

Plaintiff’s counsel, defense counsel in good faith finds that a settlement conference would not 

be productive at this time, defense counsel may opt out of this settlement conference by filing a 

notice with the Court, in which case the matter will proceed without an early settlement 

conference.

If defense counsel opts out of the settlement conference, or if the case does not settle at 

the conference, the case will proceed to litigation.1

If defense counsel does not opt out, the Court will issue separate order(s) setting the 

settlement conference and detailing the pre-settlement conference procedures in due course.

Within fourteen days after the issuance of the order setting the settlement conference, in 

order to better inform all parties and have a meaningful conference, the Court is requiring that 

both parties disclose certain documents to each other about the case, as listed below. These 

documents are relevant to the case and will most likely be disclosed in discovery shortly if this 

case proceeds to litigation.2 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within thirty days from the date of service of this order, defense counsel shall

either: (1) file a notice stating that Defendant(s) opt out of the settlement 

conference; or (2) contact ADR Coordinator Sujean Park 

(spark@caed.uscourts.gov) to schedule the settlement conference. If defense 

counsel does not opt out of the settlement conference, the Court will issue an 

order setting a settlement conference. That order will include the date of the 

conference and the Magistrate Judge who will oversee the conference, and may 

also include procedures required by that Judge.

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If the case proceeds to a settlement conference, the Court will not schedule the case until after the 

settlement conference is held.

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If any party has a legal objection to providing a particular document, that party shall file and serve a 

notice describing its objection.

3 The undersigned will not be the Magistrate Judge overseeing the settlement conference.

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2. If a settlement conference is set, no later than fourteen days after the date of 

service of the order setting the settlement conference, each party shall send the 

other parties, or their attorneys (if represented), the documents listed below. 

The parties only need to provide documents related to the claim(s) that the Court 

allowed to proceed past the screening stage. Additionally, defense counsel does 

not need to include any documents that defense counsel believes are confidential 

or subject to the official information privilege. Plaintiff’s counsel does not need 

to request any documents from Plaintiff’s institution of confinement at this time. 

Plaintiff’s counsel only needs to provide these documents if Plaintiff already has 

them in his or her possession. 

a. Documents regarding exhaustion of Plaintiff’s claims, including 602s, 

Form 22s, and responses from the appeals office;

b. All non-confidential documents regarding Rules Violation Reports, if 

any exist, associated with the incident(s) alleged in the complaint, 

including disciplinary charges and findings;

c. All of Plaintiff’s medical records related to the incident and/or condition 

at issue in the case, if any exist;

d. Chronos for transfer or Administrative Segregation placement related to 

the incident(s) alleged in the complaint, if any exist; and

e. Non-confidential incident reports regarding the use of force incident(s) 

alleged in the complaint, if any exist; 

Additionally, the parties may send any other documents related to the case that 

the parties believe will assist in the settlement conference. However, the parties 

may not request any other documents until discovery has been opened.

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3. The parties are reminded to keep the Court informed of their current address.

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 L.R. 182(f).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 22, 2021 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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