Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00759/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00759-13/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Roxanne Coleman
Defendant
Devonte B. Harris
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DEVONTE B. HARRIS,

Plaintiff,

v.

ROXANNE COLEMAN,

Defendant.

Case No.: 1:20-cv-00759-ADA-SKO (PC)

AMENDED ORDER SETTING 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE AND 

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE 

PROCEDURES

Telephonic Pre-Settlement Conference:

2/8/2023 at 11:00 a.m. 

Settlement Conference: 2/14/2023 at 

10:30 a.m. via Zoom Videoconference

Plaintiff Devonte B. Harris is proceeding pro se in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983 on a single claim of retaliation in violation of the First Amendment against 

Defendant R. Coleman. 

On September 13, 2022, the Court issued its Order Setting Settlement Conference and 

Settlement Conference Procedures. (Doc. 41.) 

On October 25, 2022, Plaintiff filed a motion to continue the settlement conference 

scheduled for November 8, 2022. (Doc. 44.) Plaintiff stated he had been unable to comply with 

this Court’s order to engage in informal negotiations and to file a confidential settlement 

conference statement, had limited law library access and limited access to his legal materials, and 

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was required to tend to the obligations associated with representing himself in pending state 

criminal matters. (Id.) On October 28, 2022, Defendant filed a statement of non-opposition to 

Plaintiff’s motion. (Doc. 45.) 

On October 31, 2022, the undersigned issued a minute order vacating the telephonic presettlement conference set for November 2, 2022, and the settlement conference set for November 

8, 2022. (Doc. 48 [text entry only].) The Court also re-set this matter for a Telephonic PreSettlement Conference to be held February 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. and a Settlement Conference to 

be held February 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., with an amended order to be issued by the Court. (Id.) 

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:

1. The Court SETS a telephonic pre-settlement conference for February 8, 2023, at 

11:00 a.m. before the undersigned to discuss whether the settlement conference will 

be productive. Defense counsel shall arrange for Plaintiff’s participation. The parties 

shall dial 1-888-557-8511 and enter access code 6208204# for the telephonic 

conference.

2. A settlement conference is scheduled to occur on February 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.,

before the undersigned, via Zoom videoconference. Defense counsel shall arrange for 

Plaintiff’s participation. Prior to the conference, defense counsel shall contact the 

undersigned’s courtroom deputy at wkusamura@caed.uscourts.gov for the Zoom 

videoconference connection information. The Court will issue a writ of habeas corpus 

ad testificandum to allow for Plaintiff’s participation, as appropriate.

3. Each party or a representative with full authority to negotiate and enter into a binding 

settlement agreement shall participate in the conference. The failure of any counsel, 

party, or authorized person subject to this order to participate in the conference may 

result in the imposition of sanctions.

4. Consideration of settlement is a serious matter that requires thorough preparation prior 

to the settlement conference. Participants in the conference must be prepared to 

discuss the claims, defenses, and damages.

5. The parties shall engage in informal settlement negotiations as follows: 

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No later than December 30, 2022, Plaintiff shall submit to Defendants, by mail, a 

written itemization of damages and a meaningful settlement demand, including a brief 

explanation of why such settlement is appropriate, which shall not exceed 5 pages.

No later than January 9, 2023, Defendants shall respond, by mail or telephone, with 

an acceptance of Plaintiff’s offer or a meaningful counteroffer, including a brief 

explanation of why such settlement is appropriate. If settlement is achieved, the parties 

shall file a Notice of Settlement as required by Local Rule 160.

6. If settlement is not achieved informally, the parties shall submit confidential 

settlement conference statements no later than January 24, 2023. Defendants shall 

email their statement to skoorders@caed.uscourts.gov. Plaintiff shall mail his 

statement, clearly captioned “Confidential Settlement Conference Statement,” to 

United States District Court, Attn: Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto, 2500 Tulare 

Street, Room 1501, Fresno, CA 93721.

Once the parties have submitted their statements, they shall file a “Notice of 

Submission of Confidential Settlement Conference Statement” with the court. The 

confidential settlement conference statements themselves should not be filed with the 

court nor served on the opposing party.

7. The confidential settlement conference statements should be no longer than 5 pages in 

length and include:

a. A brief summary of the facts of the case;

b. A brief summary of the claims and defenses of the case, i.e., the statutory, 

constitutional, or other grounds upon which the claims are founded;

c. A forthright discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the case and an 

evaluation of the likelihood of prevailing on the claims or defenses, from the 

party’s perspective, and a description of the major issues in dispute;

d. An estimate of the party’s expected costs and time to be expended for further 

discovery, pretrial matters, and trial;

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e. A summary of past settlement discussions, including the informal settlement 

negotiations required above; a statement of the party’s current position on 

settlement, including the amount the party would offer and accept to settle (in 

specific dollar amounts); and a statement of the party’s expectations for 

settlement discussions;

f. An estimate of any restitution allocated to Plaintiff, or other financial 

obligation assigned to Plaintiff, that would affect the parties’ settlement 

discussions; 

g. A list of the individuals who will be attending the conference on the party’s 

behalf, including names and, if appropriate, titles; and,

h. If a party intends to discuss the settlement of any other actions or claims not 

raised in this suit, a brief description of each action or claim, including case 

number(s), as applicable.

The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a courtesy copy of this Order via email on the 

Litigation Coordinator at the facility housing Plaintiff to help ensure that Plaintiff receives a copy 

of this Order as soon as possible. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 1, 2022 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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