Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01157/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-01157-22/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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RAYMOND D. JACKSON,

Plaintiff, No. 2:11-cv-1157 JAM KJN P

vs.

STEVEN PLETCHER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding through court-appointed counsel with an

action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The court has determined, at this juncture, that this

case would benefit from a limited settlement conference involving only plaintiff and defendant

Hall. Therefore, this case will be referred to Magistrate Judge Craig M. Kellison to conduct 1

such conference at the United States District Court, 501 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814,

in Courtroom #2, on January 16, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. 

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

concurrently with this order, to authorize plaintiff’s attendance at the conference.

 The settlement conference may be expanded to include other defendants at the 1

discretion of the court. 

1

Case 2:11-cv-01157-JAM-KJN Document 173 Filed 01/07/13 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

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. This case is set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge 

Craig M. Kellison on January 16, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., at the U. S. District Court, 

501 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814 in Courtroom #2.

2. Lead counsel for defendant Hall, and a person with full and unlimited authority to

negotiate and enter into a binding settlement on defendant’s behalf, shall attend in

person. 

2

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 provide a confidential settlement conference statement to Sujean

Park, ADR and Pro Bono Program Director, via e-mail at

spark@caed.uscourts.gov, no later than January 14, 2013 and file a Notice of

Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement (See L.R. 270(d)).

////

 While the exercise of its authority is subject to abuse of discretion review, “the district 2

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 (9 Cir. 2012)(“the district court has th

broad authority to compel participation in mandatory settlement conference[s].”). The term “full

authority to settle” means that the individuals attending the settlement 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. Pittman 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).

2

Case 2:11-cv-01157-JAM-KJN Document 173 Filed 01/07/13 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

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 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.

SO ORDERED. 

DATED: January 7, 2013

_____________________________________

KENDALL J. NEWMAN

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

jack1157.med.wpd

3

Case 2:11-cv-01157-JAM-KJN Document 173 Filed 01/07/13 Page 3 of 3