Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-02556/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-02556-10/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Counter Defendant
Stephen P. Elder
Counter Claimant
Elder Development, Inc.
Counter Claimant
Sterling Centrecorp Inc.
Defendant
United States of America
Counter Defendant

Document Text:

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

1

IGNACIA S. MORENO

Assistant Attorney General

Environment & Natural Resources Division

United States Department of Justice

PATRICIA L. HURST 

District of Columbia Bar No. 438882

Trial Attorney

Environmental Enforcement Section

Environment & Natural Resources Division

United States Department of Justice

P.O. Box 7611

Washington, DC 20044

Telephone: (202) 307-1242

Fax: (202) 514-2583

Email: patricia.hurst@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Plaintiff United States of America

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC

SUBSTANCES CONTROL,

Plaintiffs,

v.

STERLING CENTRECORP INC.,

STEPHEN P. ELDER, and

ELDER DEVELOPMENT, INC.,

Defendants.

No.: 2:08-CV-02556-MCE-JFM

STIPULATION AND ORDER

REFERRING CASE IN PART

FOR MEDIATION; WAIVER

OF DISQUALIFICATION OF

ASSIGNED MAGISTRATE

JUDGE ACTING AS

SETTLEMENT JUDGE

Plaintiffs the United States of America and the California Department of Toxic Substances

Control, through their respective counsel, and Defendants Stephen P. Elder and Elder

Development, Inc., representing themselves pro se (“Mediating Parties”), hereby submit the

following stipulation and proposed order referring the case in part to Magistrate Judge Moulds

for mediation.

Case 2:08-cv-02556-MCE-DB Document 83 Filed 03/16/10 Page 1 of 4
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

RECITALS

1. The Mediating Parties are actively litigating the above-captioned matter. Fact

discovery is ongoing. 

2. Based upon discussions between the Mediating Parties, the Mediating Parties

believe that participation in mediation is appropriate at this stage of the litigation.

3. The Mediating Parties have requested that Magistrate Judge Moulds mediate their

disputes, and Magistrate Judge Moulds has indicated a willingness to do so.

STIPULATION AND REQUEST

Based on the foregoing recitals, the parties hereby STIPULATE that:

1. It is in the interest of justice that the matter be referred in part for mediation

before Magistrate Judge Moulds at the time set by the Court. The mediation shall address only

claims and defenses existing among the Mediating Parties. Defendant Sterling Centrecorp, Inc.,

has been informed of and does not object to this Stipulation and Proposed Order. 

2. The Mediating Parties further expressly agree to waive any objections or claims to

disqualify Magistrate Judge Moulds from acting as a settlement judge. The Mediating Parties do

not consent to the settlement judge acting as a trial judge in this case.

3. No discovery or pre-trial deadlines will be stayed during the period of mediation.

4. All parties are required to attend the mediation in person. A corporation satisfies

this attendance requirement if represented by a person who has, to the greatest extent possible,

authority to settle, and who is knowledgeable about the facts of the action and the corporation's

position in the action. A governmental entity satisfies this attendance requirement if represented

by a person who has, to the greatest extent possible, authority to settle, and who is

knowledgeable about the facts of the action, the governmental entity's position in the action, and

the procedures and policies under which the governmental entity can enter into, finalize, and

perform settlements.

5. Except as otherwise required by law or as stipulated in writing by all Mediating

Parties and Magistrate Judge Moulds, all communications made in connection with any

Case 2:08-cv-02556-MCE-DB Document 83 Filed 03/16/10 Page 2 of 4
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

mediation proceeding shall be privileged and confidential to the fullest extent provided by

applicable law.

6. No person may disclose to the assigned Judge any communication made, position

taken, or opinion formed by any party or Magistrate Judge Moulds in connection with any

mediation proceeding except as otherwise:

(A) stipulated in writing by all parties and the Magistrate Judge Moulds;

(B) ordered by the Court – after application of pertinent legal

tests that are appropriately sensitive to the interests underlying mediation confidentiality –

in connection with a proceeding to determine whether a person violated a legal norm, rule, court

order, or ethical duty during or in connection with the mediation.

7. No later than fourteen (14) days after the mediation session has been concluded,

the Mediating Parties must jointly file a Mediation Completion Report in which they report to the

assigned Judge:

(A) whether the action in its entirety was resolved or settled during the mediation

session, and if so, when a proposed consent decree will be lodged with the Court;

(B) if the action in its entirety was not resolved or settled, whether any resolution,

stipulation, or agreement was reached on any part of the action, including but not limited to any

stipulation or agreement regarding facts, issues, procedures, or claims; and

(C) the current status of the action.

Case 2:08-cv-02556-MCE-DB Document 83 Filed 03/16/10 Page 3 of 4
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

4

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Dated: March 15, 2010 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

By: /s/

Patricia L. Hurst

Attorney for Plaintiff

United States of America

Dated: March 15, 2010 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF

TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL

By: /s/

Kirk McInnis

Attorney for Plaintiff

California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Dated: March 11, 2010 STEPHEN P. ELDER and ELDER

DEVELOPMENT, INC.

By: /s/

Stephen P. Elder

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 15, 2010

________________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:08-cv-02556-MCE-DB Document 83 Filed 03/16/10 Page 4 of 4