Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02161/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02161-17/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ESTATE OF MATTHEW McEVERS, ) 2:06-CV-02161-LRH (RAM)

deceased, by and through BRETT )

McEVERS and GABRIEL McEVERS, )

(minors through their mother and ) ORDER SCHEDULING

guardian ad litem Shannon McEvers) ) SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

and SHANNON McEVERS, as )

successors in interest, BRETT )

McEVERS, individually, GABRIEL )

McEVERS, individually, and LYNETTE )

McEVERS, individually, ) 

)

Plaintiffs, )

)

vs. )

 )

COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO, )

Sacramento County Sheriff’s )

Department LOU BLANAS, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________)

Pursuant to the parties’ request, a settlement conference is hereby scheduled to

commence on Thursday, May 13, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., before theundersigned Magistrate

Judge, Courtroom Two, Bruce R. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, 400

South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.

Unless excused by order of the court, clients or client representatives with complete

authority to negotiate and consummate a settlement shall be in attendance at the settlement

conference. This requires the presence of the client or if a corporate, governmental, or other

organizational entity, an authorized representative of the client. For a Defendant, such

representative must have final settlement authority to commit the organization to pay, in the

representative’s own discretion, a settlement amount up to the Plaintiff’s prayer, or up to the

Case 2:06-cv-02161-LRH-RAM Document 119 Filed 03/24/10 Page 1 of 4
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Plaintiff’s last demand, whichever is lower. For a Plaintiff, such representative must have

final authority, in the representative’s own discretion, to authorize dismissal of the case with

prejudice, or to accept a settlement amount down to the Defendant’s last offer. If board

approval is required to authorize settlement, the attendance of at least one sitting member

of the board (preferably the chairperson) is absolutely required. Any insurance company that

is a party or is contractually required to defend or to pay damages, if any, assessed within its

policy limits in this case must have a fully authorized settlement representative present. Such

representative must have final settlement authority to commit the company to pay, in the

representative’s own discretion, an amount within the policy limits, or up to the Plaintiff’s last

demand, whichever is lower. If trial counsel has been fully authorized to commit the client

to pay or to accept in settlement the amount last proposed by the opponent, in counsel’s sole

discretion, the client, client representative, or insurance company representative, as

applicable, need not attend. The purpose of this requirement is to have in attendance a

representative who has both the authority to exercise his or her own discretion, and the

realistic freedom to exercise such discretion without the negative consequences, in order to

settle the case during the settlement conference without consulting someone else who is not

present. In the event counsel for any party is aware of any circumstance which might cast

doubt on a client’s compliance with this paragraph, s/he shall immediately discuss the

circumstance with opposing counsel to resolve it well before the settlement conference, and,

if such discussion does not resolve it, request a telephone conference with the court and

counsel.

Counsel appearing for the settlement conference without their client representatives

or insurance company representatives, authorized as described above, will cause the

settlement conference to be canceled or rescheduled. The non-complying party, attorney or

both may be assessed the costs and expenses incurred by other parties and the court as a

result of such cancellation, as well as any additional sanctions deemed appropriate by the

court. Counsel are responsible for timely advising any involved non-party insurance

Case 2:06-cv-02161-LRH-RAM Document 119 Filed 03/24/10 Page 2 of 4
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company of the requirements of this order.

At the settlement conference the parties, by counsel, shall give a brief (5-10 minute)

presentation outlining the factual and legal highlights of their case. Then separate,

confidential caucuses will be held with each party and/or the party’s representative(s).

PREPARATION FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

In preparation for the settlement conference, the attorneys for each party shall submit

a confidential settlement conference statement for the court's in camera review. The

settlement conference statement shall contain the following:

1. A brief statement of the nature of the action.

2. A concise summary of the evidence that supports your theory of the case,

including information which documents your damages claims. You may attach

to your statement those documents or exhibits which are especially relevant to

key factual or legal issues,including selectedpages from deposition transcripts

or responses to other discovery requests.

3. An analysis of the key issues involved in the litigation.

4. A discussion of the strongest points in your case, both legal and factual, and a

frank discussion of the weakest points as well. The court expects you to

present a candid evaluation of the merits of your case.

5. A further discussion of the strongest and weakest points in your opponents'

case, but only if they are more than simply the converse of the weakest and

strongest points in your case. 

6. An estimate of the cost (including attorney’s fees and costs) of taking this case

through trial.

7. A history of settlement discussions, if any, which details the demands and

offers which have been made, and the reasons they have been rejected.

8. The settlement proposal that you believe would be fair.

/ / /

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9. The settlement proposal that you would honestly be willing to make in order

to conclude this matter and stop the expense of litigation.

THE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENTS SHALL BE RECEIVED

IN MY CHAMBERS, ROOM 405, NOT LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY,

MAY 11, 2010.

DO NOT SERVE A COPY ON OPPOSING COUNSEL. DO NOT DELIVER OR MAIL

THEM TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

The settlement conference statement should be delivered to my chambers in an

envelope clearly marked "Confidential Contains Settlement Brief".

The purpose of the settlement conference statement is to assist the court in preparing

for and conducting the settlement conference. In order to facilitate a meaningful conference,

your utmost candor in responding to all of the above listed questions is required. The

settlement conference statements will not be seen by the trial judge. The confidentiality of

each statement will be strictly maintained in my chambers. Following the conference, the

settlement conference statements will be destroyed.

DATED: March 23, 2010.

___________________________________

ROBERT A. McQUAID, JR. 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-02161-LRH-RAM Document 119 Filed 03/24/10 Page 4 of 4