Opinion
1:19-cv-00761 -BAM (PC)
06-30-2023
KENTRELL WILLIS, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant.
ORDER REQUIRING DEFENDANT TO RESPOND TO PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE (ECF NO. 82) TWENTY-ONE (21) DAY DEADLINE
BARBARA A. MCAULIFFE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Kentrell Willis (“Plaintiff”) is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. § 2401, et seq. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages from the United States of America (“Defendant”) for allege sexual assault and negligence arising out of events at the United States Penitentiary, Atwater. All parties have consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction. (ECF No. 49.)
On June 29, 2023, Plaintiff filed a motion requesting that this matter be set for Alternative Dispute Resolution. (ECF No. 82.)
The Court generally will not grant motions to set a settlement conference without confirmation that all parties feel that a settlement conference would be a beneficial use of resources of the parties and the Court. Therefore, the Court finds it appropriate to obtain a brief response from Defendant regarding Plaintiff's request for a settlement conference, indicating whether Defendant is also willing to participate in a judicially-mediated settlement conference in this matter. Defendant need not respond to each separate condition included in Plaintiff's request. The parties are further reminded that they are free to communicate regarding a possible settlement, without judicial involvement.
Accordingly, Defendant is HEREBY ORDERED to file a brief written response to Plaintiff's motion for a settlement conference, (ECF No. 82), within twenty-one (21) days from the date of service of this order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.