Williams v. New York City Department Of Education
- Rochon
- 1:18-cv-11621
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 22
In Williams v. New York City Department of Education, Judge Rochon reassigned the case, kept prior deadlines, and ordered a status letter.
Moesha Williams, who is proceeding without a lawyer, and the defendants and their counsel must follow the reassignment, scheduling, service, and status-letter requirements.
What happened
Moesha Williams sued the New York City Department of Education and Rosie Sifuentes-Rosado. The opinion does not describe the claims or decide the underlying dispute.
The court announced that the case had been reassigned. Existing orders, dates, and deadlines remain in effect, but previously scheduled appearances or conferences before the district judge are postponed until further notice. The parties must confer and submit a joint letter updating the court on the case’s status within three weeks.
Judge Jennifer L. Rochon also required the letter to address matters including the case’s nature, jurisdiction, deadlines, motions, appeals, discovery, settlement discussions, possible alternative dispute resolution, and estimated trial length. The order is a case-management order, not a decision on the merits.
The detailed version
- Williams v. New York City Department Of Education · No. 1:18-cv-11621
- Rochon
- Sept. 22, 2022
Nature of the Order
This is a notice of reassignment and case-management order. The opinion does not resolve the claims, defenses, or underlying legal dispute.
Reassignment and Existing Schedule
The court stated that the case had been reassigned to Judge Jennifer L. Rochon. Unless the court orders otherwise, all prior orders, dates, and deadlines remain in effect. Conferences or oral arguments before, or directed by, a magistrate judge must proceed as previously ordered. Previously scheduled appearances or conferences before the district judge are adjourned until the court provides further notice.
Required Status Letter
Within three weeks after the order was filed, the parties must confer and prepare a joint letter. The defendants must file the letter electronically and serve it on pro se Plaintiff Moesha Williams. The letter may not exceed four pages.
The order requires the letter to provide, when relevant, updated contact information; a brief description of the case and principal defenses; an explanation of jurisdiction and venue; existing deadlines; previously scheduled conferences; outstanding motions; pending appeals; discovery completed and remaining essential discovery; the status of settlement discussions without exact offers or demands; the parties’ views on possible mediation or settlement conferences; an estimate of trial length; and other information that could help move the case toward settlement or trial.
If the case has already been settled or otherwise terminated, the parties do not need to submit the letter or appear if they file appropriate proof of termination before the deadline. The order also states that requests to extend unaffected deadlines or adjourn dates must follow Judge Rochon’s individual rules.
Effect of the Order
The order manages the case after reassignment. It does not grant or deny a dispositive motion, dismiss any claim, enter judgment, or determine which side is legally correct. The Clerk was directed to mail the order and Judge Rochon’s individual rules to the pro se plaintiff.
Read the full 22-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.