Opinion
1:19-cv-00529-DAD-HBK
12-27-2021
ETUATE SEKONA, Plaintiff, v. M. FRANCIS, Registered Nurse at Kern Valley State Prison, Defendant.[1]
ORDER REFERRING CASE TO ADR AND STAY OF CASE FOR 45 DAYS ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO CORRECT CAPTION
HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Etuate Sekona, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, initiated this action by filing a civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on April 24, 2019. (Doc. No. 1). Defendants filed an answer on January 14, 2020. (Doc. No. 18). Defendant Negre filed a merits-based motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No. 33). On September 2, 2021, the undersigned issued findings and recommendations to grant the motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No. 37). On November 16, 2021, the District Judge assigned to this case adopted the findings and recommendations, granting Defendant Negre's motion for summary judgment and referring the case back to the undersigned for further proceedings. (Doc. No. 41).
The Court refers all civil rights cases filed by pro se individuals to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to attempt to resolve such cases more expeditiously and less expensively. See also Local Rule 270. No. claims, defenses, or objections are waived by the parties' participation.
Attempting to resolve this matter through settlement now would save the parties the time and expense of preparing for trial. The Court therefore will STAY this action for 45 days to allow the parties to meet and confer and participate in a settlement conference. The Court presumes that all civil rights cases assigned to the undersigned will proceed to a settlement conference. If, however, after meeting and conferring, either party finds that a settlement conference would be a waste of resources, the party may opt out of the settlement conference. If either party opts out or the settlement is unsuccessful, the Court will set the case for trial.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
1. This action will be STAYED for 45 days to allow the parties an opportunity to settle their dispute. No. pleadings or motions may be filed in this case during the stay.
2. Within 45 days from the date of this Order, the parties shall file a notice if they object to proceeding to a settlement conference or if they believe that settlement is not currently achievable. If either party objects to a settlement conference, the Court will set the case for trial.
4. If the parties consent to a settlement conference or fail to file objections by the expiration period, the Court by separate Order will assign this matter to a United States Magistrate Judge, other than the undersigned, for conducting the settlement conference.
5. If the parties reach a settlement prior to the settlement conference, they SHALL file a Notice of Settlement as required by Local Rule 160 6. The parties are obligated to keep the Court informed of their current addresses during the stay and the pendency of this action. Changes of address must be reported promptly in a Notice of Change of Address. See Local Rule 182(f).
7. The Clerk of Court shall correct the docket to reflect M. Francis as the sole remaining defendant.