Opinion
1:23-cv-00171-JTL-SAB 1:23-cv-00864-JLT-EPG
10-31-2023
Estate of Jacob Apodaca and Robert Apodaca, Jr., Plaintiffs, v. County of Merced, Merced County Sheriff's Office, Vernon Warnke, Soto, Andrea Sweeney, Roman Granado, and Doe 1 to 20, Defendants
Forrest W. Hansen, SBN 235432 Merced County Counsel Jenna M. Anderson, SBN 291467 Chief Deputy County Counsel Mark T. Laluan, SBN 339479 Deputy County Counsel Attorney for Defendants County of Merced, “Merced County Sheriff's Office” (a department of the County of Merced), Vernon Warnke, Soto, Andrea Sweeney, and Roman Granado
Date: November 6, 2023
Forrest W. Hansen, SBN 235432
Merced County Counsel
Jenna M. Anderson, SBN 291467
Chief Deputy County Counsel
Mark T. Laluan, SBN 339479
Deputy County Counsel
Attorney for Defendants County of Merced, “Merced County Sheriff's Office” (a department of the County of Merced), Vernon Warnke, Soto, Andrea Sweeney, and Roman Granado
REQUEST FOR DEFENDANTS VERNON WARNKE, BRANDON SOTO, ANDREA SWEENEY AND ROMAN GRANADO TO BE EXCUSED FROM ATTENDING SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AND [PROPOSED] ORDER
KENDALL J. NEWMAN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
A settlement conference has been set before Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman for November 6, 2023, via video conferencing through the Zoom platform. Pursuant to Local Rule 270(d), Fed.R.Civ.P. 16, and the Settlement Conference Procedures published by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman, the Court requires parties to have a principal with full settlement authority present for the conference or be fully authorized to settle the matter on any terms.
Defendant COUNTY OF MERCED has a statutory duty to defend and indemnify Defendants Vernon Warnke, Brandon Soto, Andrea Sweeney and Roman Granado for conduct within the course and scope of their employment as employees of the Sheriff's Department, and is sending representatives authorized to settle the matter in full, including on behalf of Defendants Vernon Warnke, Brandon Soto, Andrea Sweeney and Roman Granado. As a result, Defendants Vernon Warnke, Brandon Soto, Andrea Sweeney and Roman Granado specifically request to be personally excused from appearing at the conference. Instead, Defendants Vernon Warnke, Brandon Soto, Andrea Sweeney and Roman Granado request permission to (1) appear by and through their counsel, Jenna M. Anderson of the Office of County Counsel, County of Merced, and (2) to remain on telephone and electronic standby should their participation be requested or their consent to any settlement be required.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Defendants Vernon Warnke, Brandon Soto, Andrea Sweeney and Roman Granado may appear for the settlement conference scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on November 6, 2023, by and through their counsel, Jenna M. Anderson of the Office of the County Counsel, County of Merced, and to remain on telephone and electronic standby should their participation by conference call or via the Zoom platform be requested, and/or their consent to any settlement be required.
IT IS SO ORDERED.