Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00505/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00505-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Patricia Berne
Plaintiff
City of Oakland
Defendant

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PATRICIA BERNE,

Plaintiff,

 vs.

CITY OF OAKLAND, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C-07-0505 MJJ (MEJ)

ORDER RE SETTLEMENT

CONFERENCE

Due to the Court's unavailability, the settlement conference originally set for November 2,

2007 is hereby continued to December 12, 2007. Although the Court will be on criminal duty the

entire month of December, and generally does not conduct settlement conferences during this time,

the Court will set a special Settlement Conference for December 12, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., in the

Court's chambers. Participants are to come to the security door on the 15th floor and use the security

phone for access.

 The Court has conferred with Judge Jenkins regarding discovery in this matter, and the court

will stay all discovery until after the December 12 settlement conference. 

The Court has reviewed copies of the correspondence between the attorneys for the parties in

this case regarding the upcoming settlement conference.

Plaintiff asserts that there would be a conflict if he were to negotiate damages, attorney's

fees, and costs prior to negotiating the access provisions in this case. However the Court finds no

Case 3:07-cv-00505-MMC Document 10 Filed 11/02/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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conflict in simply providing the information regarding costs, fees and damages. On the contrary,

given the Plaintiff's stated concerns regarding undue delay, if the parties are able to resolve the

issues surrounding access, they can then proceed to resolving the issues of attorney's fees, costs and

damages. This measure will help resolve this matter without further undue and unnecessary delay. 

Plaintiff has requested that a member of the Oakland City Council ("City Council" or

Council") be present at the settlement conference. The Court finds it more productive for Defendant

to present the Plaintiff's information regarding costs and damages to the entire City Council, and at

the same time, seek the Council's remedies and proposals regarding the ramp. Thus, on the date of

the settlement conference, Defendant's attorney should be prepared to discuss the City Council's

proposed remedies, including the funding of the ramp. If by the date of the settlement conference,

Defendant's attorney is unable to obtain a proposal from the City Council, the Court finds a member

of the City Council should attend the settlement conference to respond to questions any the court has

regarding the potential resolution of the ramp issues.

There Court therefore ORDERS as follows:

Plaintiff's attorney shall, by Tuesday, November 12, 2007, deliver his estimate of damages,

attorney's fees, and costs to Defendant's attorney. Prior to the settlement conference, Defendant's

attorney shall present Plaintiff's estimate of attorney's fees, costs and damages to the City Council

and shall obtain from the Council a proposal regarding the resolution of this matter, including the

funding of the ramp. The Defendant's attorney shall be prepared to discuss any proposal of the

Council at the December 12, 2007 settlement conference. However, if the Defendant's attorney is

unable to obtain a proposal from the Council before December 12, 2007, a member of the Council

shall attend the settlement conference to respond to any inquiries by the court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 2, 2007 

MARIA-ELENA JAMES

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00505-MMC Document 10 Filed 11/02/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Case 3:07-cv-00505-MMC Document 10 Filed 11/02/07 Page 3 of 3