Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-00506/USCOURTS-azd-2_06-cv-00506-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 15:1692 Fair Debt Collection Act

---

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

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Kathy Grismore, Pro Se,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Credit Bureau Central, Inc., John Doe aka

Jon Snow,

Defendants. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. CV-06-0506-PHX-ROS

ORDER

This matter arises on Defendant's Response to OSC (docket # 45) and

 Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions and To Expedite Settlement Conference (docket # 46).

After reviewing and considering all the pleadings and orders related to the two

foregoing matters, the Court will not impose any sanctions on defense counsel or her client

for counsel's carelessness in failing to read and comply with the Court's August 3, 2006

settlement conference order that required, among others, that Defendant's settlement

conference memorandum not be filed with the Clerk. While good cause certainly has not

been shown, neither the Court nor Plaintiff has sustained any undue prejudice by such noncompliance except, of course, for the time this Court has spent rectifying counsel's error.

Moreover, since the settlement conference was previously rescheduled due to Defendant's

agent's plane purportedly being delayed through no fault of the representative and the

settlement conference was rescheduled to October 18, 2006, the settlement conference

memoranda may be considered by the Court and adverse party at that time. The Court

Case 2:06-cv-00506-ROS Document 51 Filed 10/11/06 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 -

expects all parties to be physically present promptly at 1:30 p.m. on October 18, 2006 in

Courtroom 302 and to comply with the mandates of the August 3, 2006 settlement

conference order. Defendant's representative shall plan her travel itinerary to accommodate

reasonable flight delays to ensure the settlement conference starts on time as scheduled.

The Court also perceives that neither Plaintiff, a pro se litigant, nor defense

counsel is familiar with practicing in federal court. References by both to the undersigned

as a "magistrate" are incorrect. Congress changed the formal title of United States Magistrate

to United States Magistrate Judge in the Judicial Improvement Act of 1990, effective

December 1, 1990. Section 321 of Pub. L. No. 101-650; §102, 104 Stat. 5089, 5116, as set

out as a note under 28 U.S.C. § 631; United States v. Steelwright, 179 F.Supp. 2d 567, 569

n.3 (D. Md. 2002). Thus, a magistrate judge may be appropriately called judge or magistrate

judge but not as magistrate. The official title was changed because it "[was] believed [it

would] 'help educate attorneys and litigants about the magistrate judges' status as

authoritative judicial officers within the federal courts.'" In re 4330 N. 35th St., 142 F.R.D.

161, 165 (E.D.Wis.1992) (quoting Christopher Smith, From U.S. Magistrate to U.S.

Magistrate Judges, 75 Judicature 210, 212 (1992)).

Plaintiff and defense counsel are reminded that the Standards for Professional

Conduct apply to both of you. See, www.azd.uscourts.gov, click on Attorney Information,

click on Attorney Admission Information, and click on Standards for Professional Conduct.

This includes the obligations to, among others, "treat all [] counsel, parties [] in a civil and

courteous manner [] in all written and oral communication[]" and "abstain from disparaging

personal remarks or acrimony toward [] counsel, parties . . . ." Id. at ¶ 1 and ¶ 2. LRCiv

83.3(c)(1) (Local Rules apply to pro se litigants) and LRCiv 83.1(e) (sanctions).

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the September 25, 2006 Order to Show Cause is hereby

DISCHARGED.

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions and To Expedite 

/ / /

Case 2:06-cv-00506-ROS Document 51 Filed 10/11/06 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 -

Settlement Conference (docket # 46) is DENIED.

DATED this 10th day of October, 2006.

Case 2:06-cv-00506-ROS Document 51 Filed 10/11/06 Page 3 of 3