1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

Case No. 1:22-cv-24066-KMM

GRACE, INC., et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CITY OF MIAMI,

Defendant.

/

JOINT MOTION TO WAIVE PRETRIAL MEDIATION

?e Parties jointly move the Court to waive the requirement that they participate in pretrial 

mediation, and state:

1. On February 24, 2023, the Court entered a Paperless Pretrial Order of Referral to 

Mediation, ordering the Parties to complete mediation no later than 80 days before the scheduled 

trial date. ECF No. 33.

2. On May 23, 2023, the Court entered a Paperless Order of Referral to Supplemental 

Mediation, ordering the Parties to mediate within 30 days, following the Court’s issuing a 

preliminary injunction. ECF No. 61.

3. Pursuant to that Order, on March 10, 2023, the Parties notified the Court that they 

had selected a mediator for the pretrial mediation. ECF No. 35.1

4. ?e Parties mediated regarding the interim remedial process on June 13, 2023, 

1 The selected mediator has informed the Parties that he is not available until after the Court’s 

deadline for completing pretrial mediation. Given their selected mediator’s unavailability, the 

Parties expect that they will request the Clerk of Court to appoint a mediator should the Court deny

this Motion.

Case 1:22-cv-24066-KMM Document 116 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2023 Page 1 of 3
2

resulting in an impasse. See ECF Nos. 74–75.

5. On September 6, 2023, the Parties filed a Joint Status Report, reporting that, “based 

on prior mediation and the Parties respective positions,” both “agree that further mediation would 

not be worthwhile.” ECF No. 107.

6. As trial in this matter is set to begin on January 29, 2024, the Parties are required 

to mediate by November 10, 2023. ?e Parties must file a notice of scheduling mediation by 

October 11, 2023. See ECF No. 32.

7. ?e Parties continue to agree that further mediation would not be worthwhile and 

would likely result in another impasse. Waiving mediation will reduce the cost and burden of 

litigation for both sides, and will allow the Parties to focus on completing discovery and preparing 

for trial.

WHEREFORE, pursuant to Local Rule 16.2(d)(4), the Parties respectfully request that 

the Court waive the requirement that they engage in pretrial mediation.

Respectfully submitted this 20th day of September, 2023,

/s/ Nicholas L.V. Warren

Nicholas L.V. Warren (FBN 1019018)

ACLU Foundation of Florida, Inc.

336 East College Avenue, Suite 203

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(786) 363-1769

nwarren@aclufl.org

Daniel B. Tilley (FBN 102882)

Caroline A. McNamara (FBN 1038312)

ACLU Foundation of Florida, Inc.

4343 West Flagler Street, Suite 400

Miami, FL 33134

(786) 363-2714

dtilley@aclufl.org

/s/ George T. Levesque

GrayRobinson, P.A.

Jason L. Unger (FBN 991562)

George T. Levesque (FBN 55551)

Andy Bardos (FBN 822671)

301 S. Bronough Street. Suite 600

Tallahassee, FL 32301

(850) 577-9090

GrayRobinson, P.A.

Christopher N. Johnson (FBN 69329)

Marlene Quintana, B.C.S. (FBN 88358)

333 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 3200

Miami, Florida 33131

(305) 416-6880

Case 1:22-cv-24066-KMM Document 116 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2023 Page 2 of 3
3

cmcnamara@aclufl.org

Neil A. Steiner*

Julia Markham-Cameron*

Dechert LLP

Three Bryant Park

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

(212) 698-3822

neil.steiner@dechert.com

julia.markham-cameron@dechert.com

Christopher J. Merken*

Dechert LLP

Cira Centre

2929 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 994-2380

christopher.merken@dechert.com

Gregory P. Luib*

Dechert LLP

1900 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

(202) 261-3413

gregory.luib@dechert.com

* Admitted pro hac vice

Counsel for Plaintiffs

Christopher.Johnson@gray-robinson.com

Marlene.Quintana@gray-robinson.com

City of Miami Office of the City Attorney

Victoria Méndez (FBN 194931)

John A. Greco (FBN 991236)

Kevin R. Jones (FBN 119067)

Kerri L. McNulty (FBN 16171)

444 S.W. 2nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33130

(305) 416-1800

Counsel for Defendant

Case 1:22-cv-24066-KMM Document 116 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/20/2023 Page 3 of 3