Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00395/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00395-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans with Disabilities Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SCOTT JOHNSON, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CARMIN BOVE and JOYCE L. BOVE, 

Defendants. 

No. 2:14-cv-00395 KJM CKD 

ORDER 

 On July 3, 2014, this matter was scheduled for a settlement conference before the 

undersigned on September 11, 2014. ECF No. 11. As explained in the September 11, 2014 order 

to show cause, plaintiff submitted a confidential settlement conference statement and defendants 

failed to do so. ECF No. 12. After first denying awareness of a settlement conference, defense 

counsel explained to the courtroom deputy that plaintiff’s counsel had sought a continuance. Id. 

Both parties were directed to show cause within seven days why sanctions should not be imposed 

for their failure to communicate with each and with the court regarding the status of the 

settlement conference. Id. 

 On September 18, 2014, both parties responded to the court’s order to show cause. 

Plaintiff’s counsel states he “never contacted the court to notify of any planned continuance or 

stipulation to continue the hearing.” ECF No. 13 at 2. He further states the morning of 

September 10, 2014 “was the first time [he had] become aware that any continuance was 

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contemplated by any party or that any party was not intending to attend.” Id. 

 Defense counsel responded, stating that before the settlement conference, his office “was 

contacted by Plaintiff’s firm that the Settlement Conference would need to be continued to which 

[he] had no objection.” ECF No. 14 at 2. Defense counsel explains that it was his “understanding 

that a stipulation and order would be prepared by Plaintiff’s counsel” and he “assumed that this 

had been done and thus the September 11, 2014 Settlement Conference did not appear on our 

calendar.” Id. 

 While both parties explain their misunderstanding regarding the scheduling of the 

settlement conference, neither takes responsibility for the failure of communication between 

counsel and with the court. The responses to the order show cause create a direct dispute about 

the facts: defense counsel declares that plaintiff’s counsel at some unspecified time had indicated 

a desire to continue the settlement conference; plaintiff’s counsel denies ever having intended to 

seek a continuance. The undersigned has determined that further inquiry into the matter would 

not be an effective use of time and resources. Because both parties responded to the order to 

show cause promptly and apparently in good faith1

, the order to show cause will be discharged 

without the imposition of sanctions. Counsel are strongly cautioned, however, that future failures 

such as this will not be met with such tolerance. 

 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. A settlement conference is scheduled for January 15, 2015 before the undersigned; 

 2. Seven days prior to the settlement conference the parties shall submit confidential 

settlement conference statements via e-mail to acorders@caed.uscourts.gov, and shall file a 

Notice of Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement pursuant to Local Rule 

270(d); and 

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 The lawyers involved in this matter are litigating numerous ADA cases against each other in this 

court, and it is possible that the problem in this case resulted from innocent confusion with 

another case. 

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 3. The September 11, 2014 order to show cause is discharged. 

DATED: October 6, 2014 

Case 2:14-cv-00395-KJM-CKD Document 15 Filed 10/07/14 Page 3 of 3