Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-02047/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-02047-16/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICO FLOWERS,

Plaintiff,

v.

HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:12-cv-2047 MCE CKD P

ORDER SETTING 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a civil rights 

action 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 Edmund F. 

Brennan to conduct a settlement conference at the U. S. District Court, 501 I Street, Sacramento, 

California 95814 in Courtroom #8 on July 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. 

A separate order and writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum will issue concurrently with 

this order.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. A settlement conference has been set for July 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom #8 

before Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan at the U. S. District Court, 501 I Street, 

Sacramento, California 95814. 

2. A representative with full and unlimited authority to negotiate and enter into a binding 

Case 2:12-cv-02047-MCE-CKD Document 74 Filed 05/25/16 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 2

settlement shall attend in person.1

3. Those in attendance must be prepared to discuss the claims, defenses and damages. 

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

person may result in the imposition of sanctions. In addition, the conference will not 

proceed and will be reset to another date.

4. Each party shall submit confidential settlement statements to chambers seven (7) days 

prior to the settlement conference. Statements may be e-mailed to 

efborders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his confidential settlement 

statement Attn: Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan, USDC CAED, 501 I Street, 

Suite 4-200, Sacramento, California 95814 so it arrives no later than seven (7) days 

prior to the settlement conference. The envelope shall be marked “CONFIDENTIAL 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT.” Such statements are neither to be 

filed with the Clerk nor served on opposing counsel. However, each party shall file a 

one page document entitled Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement 

Statement (See L.R. 270(d)). Settlement statements shall be clearly marked 

Aconfidential@ with the date and time of the settlement conference indicated 

prominently thereon. The parties may agree, or not, to serve each other with the 

settlement statements. Each party is reminded of the requirement that it be 

represented in person at the settlement conference by a person able to dispose of the 

case or fully authorized to settle the matter at the settlement conference on any terms. 

 

1 While the exercise of its authority is subject to abuse of discretion review, “the district court has the authority to 

order parties, including the federal government, to participate in mandatory settlement conferences... .” United States 

v. United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, 694 F.3d 1051, 1053, 1057, 1059 (9th Cir. 

2012)(“the district court has broad authority to compel participation in mandatory settlement conference[s].”). The 

term “full authority to settle” means that the individuals attending the mediation conference must be authorized to 

fully explore settlement options and to agree at that time to any settlement terms acceptable to the parties. G. 

Heileman Brewing Co., Inc. v. Joseph Oat Corp., 871 F.2d 648, 653 (7th Cir. 1989), cited with approval in Official 

Airline Guides, Inc. v. Goss, 6 F.3d 1385, 1396 (9th Cir. 1993). The individual with full authority to settle must also 

have “unfettered discretion and authority” to change the settlement position of the party, if appropriate. Pitman v. 

Brinker Int’l., Inc., 216 F.R.D. 481, 485-86 (D. Ariz. 2003), amended on recon. in part, Pitman v. Brinker Int’l., Inc., 

2003 WL 23353478 (D. Ariz. 2003). The purpose behind requiring the attendance of a person with full settlement 

authority is that the parties’ view of the case may be altered during the face to face conference. Pitman, 216 F.R.D. 

at 486. An authorization to settle for a limited dollar amount or sum certain can be found not to comply with the 

requirement of full authority to settle. Nick v. Morgan’s Foods, Inc., 270 F.3d 590, 596-97 (8th Cir. 2001).

Case 2:12-cv-02047-MCE-CKD Document 74 Filed 05/25/16 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 3

See Local Rule 270.

The confidential settlement statement shall be no longer than five pages in length, 

typed or neatly printed, and include the following:

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

b. 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.

c. A summary of the proceedings to date.

d. An estimate of the cost and time to be expended for further discovery, pretrial, and 

trial.

e. The relief sought.

f. The party’s position on settlement, including present demands and offers and a 

history of past settlement discussions, offers, and demands.

g. A brief statement of each party’s expectations and goals for the settlement 

conference.

Dated: May 25, 2016

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:12-cv-02047-MCE-CKD Document 74 Filed 05/25/16 Page 3 of 3