Opinion
3:16-cv-00509-RCJ-WGC
08-11-2017
IGNACIO ALCANTARA-RODRIGUEZ, Plaintiff, v. C/O VALLESTER et al., Defendants.
ORDER
I. DISCUSSION
On July 12, 2017, this Court entered a screening order granting Plaintiff leave to amend. (ECF No. 4 at 9). The screening order stated that, if Plaintiff chose not to file an amended complaint curing the stated deficiencies of his complaint, the action would only proceed on the deliberate indifference claims against Correctional Officer Vallester and Caseworker Jane Doe and Nurse Jane Doe (when Plaintiff learned their identities). (Id. at 9). On July 20, 2017, Plaintiff notified the Court that he did not want to file an amended complaint but did want to proceed against Correctional Officer Vallester and Doe defendants when he learned their identities. (ECF No. 6).
On July 24, 2017, this Court issued an order staying the case for 90 days to give Plaintiff and Defendant Vallester an opportunity to settle their dispute before the filing fee was paid, an answer was filed, or the discovery process began. (ECF No. 7 at 2). The Court directed the Attorney General's Office to notify the Court whether it would enter a limited notice of appearance on behalf of Defendant Vallester for the purpose of settlement. (Id. at 3).
On August 10, 2017, the Attorney General's Office informed the Court that it could not make a limited appearance for the purpose of settlement because Defendant Vallester, the only remaining defendant in this action, was no longer employed by the Nevada Department of Corrections. (ECF No. 8 at 1). The Attorney General's Office explained that it could not appear on Defendant Vallester's behalf because it had not received a request for representation from him. (Id.).
In light of the Attorney General Office's notice, the Court now orders the Attorney General's Office to send a letter to Defendant Vallester at his last known address informing him that he is a defendant in this lawsuit. In that letter, the Attorney General's Office shall ask Defendant Vallester if he would like the Office to represent him in this matter. Within 30 days from the date of this order, the Attorney General's Office shall file an updated notice with the Court informing the Court whether it will be entering a limited notice of appearance on behalf of Defendant Vallester for the purpose of settlement in light of that letter.
If the Attorney General's Office enters a limited notice of appearance on behalf of Defendant Vallester for the purpose of settlement, the Court shall schedule an early inmate mediation conference. However, if the Attorney General's Office notifies the Court that it will not be entering a limited notice of appearance in light of its communication with Defendant Vallester, the Court will issue an order that: (1) removes this case from the early inmate mediation program, (2) rules on the application to proceed in forma pauperis, and (3) begins the service process with the U.S. Marshal's Office.
II. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, IT IS ORDERED that the Attorney General's Office shall send a letter to Defendant Vallester at his last known address informing him of this lawsuit and asking whether he seeks to have the Office represent him for the limited purpose of settlement.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within 30 days from the date of this order, the Attorney General's Office shall file an updated notice with the Court informing the Court about Defendant Vallester's representation status.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within 30 days from the date of this order, the Attorney General's Office shall advise the Court whether it will enter a limited notice of appearance on behalf of Defendant Vallester for the purpose of settlement. No defenses or objections, including lack of service, shall be waived as a result of the filing of the limited notice of appearance.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, if this case remains in the early inmate mediation program, the Court extends the 90-day stay and the deadline for the 90-day stay status report until 5 days after any scheduled mediation.
DATED: This 11th day of August, 2017.
/s/_________
United States Magistrate Judge