Haxhaj v. A&E Properties II Mgmt

Background

The court received Plaintiff Hakim Haxhaj’s motion seeking approval of the parties’ settlement under Cheeks v. Freeport Pancake House, Inc. The opinion does not state the underlying claims, the settlement terms, or whether any party opposed the settlement.

Order

To potentially conserve resources, promote efficiency, and speed the case’s resolution, the court ordered the parties to discuss whether they would consent under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) to having Magistrate Judge Gary Stein conduct all further proceedings. This consent would allow the magistrate judge to handle the case, including any trial and entry of final judgment, instead of Judge Ho.

If both sides consent, defense counsel must submit a fully completed Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form by November 28, 2025. The court would then decide whether to approve the form. Consent is voluntary, and the attached information sheet states that withholding consent has no adverse substantive consequences and that the identity of a party withholding consent will not be disclosed to the judge who might otherwise handle the case.

Disposition

The order did not approve or deny the settlement motion, enter judgment, or decide the underlying dispute. It ordered the parties to discuss consent to magistrate-judge proceedings. The order states that any appeal from a later final judgment entered in this court would go directly to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.