Lawal v. Prabal Gurung, LLC

What the Order Required

The court ordered the parties to meet and confer—that is, meet and discuss the case—for at least one hour within 30 days after service of the summons and complaint. The discussions must be a good-faith attempt to settle the action.

The parties must also consider whether the plaintiff has satisfied the threshold requirement of standing, meaning whether the plaintiff has the required basis to bring the case in federal court. The order cites Calcano v. Swarovski N. Am. Ltd. and Harty v. W. Point Realty, Inc. in connection with that issue. The court did not decide whether standing exists.

If the parties cannot settle on their own, they must discuss whether additional settlement efforts through the district’s court-annexed mediation program or before a magistrate judge would be productive.

Required Joint Letter

Within 15 additional days—45 days after service of the summons and complaint—the parties must submit a joint letter stating whether they have settled. If they have not settled, the letter must ask the court either to refer the case to mediation or to a magistrate judge for a settlement conference, and state which option the parties prefer, or to proceed with an initial status conference.

Disposition and Scope

This is a case-management and settlement order. It does not resolve the parties’ claims, decide the standing issue, or state whether either side is legally right. The order was signed by United States District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon.