Jeffrey Williams v. Spunto, Inc. and 65 Carmine Realty LLC

Order

The court ordered the parties to meet and confer for at least one hour within 30 days after service of the summons and complaint. They must make a good-faith attempt to settle the action.

Issues for Discussion

As part of the settlement discussions, the parties should consider whether Jeffrey Williams has satisfied the threshold requirement of standing—the requirement that a plaintiff have a sufficient legal connection to bring a case. If the parties cannot settle on their own, they must also discuss whether further settlement discussions through the court-annexed mediation program or before a magistrate judge would be productive at that time.

Required Joint Letter

Within 15 additional days, or within 45 days after service of the summons and complaint, the parties must submit a joint letter telling the court whether they settled. If they did not settle, the letter must ask the court either to refer the case to mediation or to a magistrate judge for a settlement conference, while stating a preference between those options, or to proceed with an initial status conference.

Disposition

Judge Jennifer L. Rochon issued a procedural order establishing settlement-discussion and reporting requirements. The opinion does not decide the standing issue or the merits of the action.