Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01931/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01931-9/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL WITKIN,

Plaintiff,

v.

G. SWARTHOUT, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:13-cv-1931 GEB KJN P

ORDER SETTING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action pursuant 

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On June 10, 2016, this case was set for a settlement conference on July 27, 

2016, before the undersigned. (ECF No. 53.) Defendant Wilkinson filed a notice of non-waiver 

of disqualification requesting a random magistrate judge preside over the settlement conference. 

(ECF No. 56.) Therefore, the July 27, 2016 settlement conference before the undersigned is

vacated, and this case is referred to Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney to conduct a settlement 

conference at the U.S. District Court, 501 I Street, Sacramento, California, in Courtroom #24 on 

August 12, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. 

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

concurrently with this order.

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Case 2:13-cv-01931-GEB-KJN Document 57 Filed 07/07/16 Page 1 of 3
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In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The July 27, 2016 settlement conference before the undersigned is vacated.

2. A settlement conference is set for August 12, 2016, at 9:30 a.m., in Courtroom #24

before Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney at the U.S. District Court, 501 I Street, Sacramento, 

California 95814.

3. The parties are instructed to have a principal with full settlement authority present at 

the Settlement Conference or to be fully authorized to settle the matter on any terms. The 

individual with full authority to settle must also have “unfettered discretion and authority” to 

change the settlement position of the party, if appropriate. 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. 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.

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4. Each party shall provide a confidential settlement statement to the following email 

address: ckdorders@caed.uscourts.gov not later than August 5, 2016. Plaintiff shall mail his 

confidential settlement statement Attn: Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney, USDC CAED, 501 

I Street, Suite 4-200, Sacramento, California 95814 so it arrives no later than August 5, 2016. 

The envelope shall be marked “CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE 

STATEMENT.” If a party desires to share additional confidential information with the Court, 

they may do so pursuant to the provisions of Local Rule 270(d) and (e). Parties are also directed 

to file a “Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Statement.” (See L.R. 270(d)).

 

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 2:13-cv-01931-GEB-KJN Document 57 Filed 07/07/16 Page 2 of 3
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Settlement statements should not be filed with the Clerk of the Court nor served on any 

other party. Settlement statements shall be clearly marked “confidential” with the date and time 

of the settlement conference indicated prominently thereon.

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: July 7, 2016

/witk1931.med

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