Dawson v. Moshay Inc.

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. The meeting must be a good-faith effort to settle the action.

Standing Discussion

The parties were directed to consider whether Lashawn Dawson has satisfied the threshold requirement of standing, meaning whether Dawson has the required connection to the dispute to invoke the court’s authority. The order cited Calcano v. Swarovski N. Am. Ltd. and Harty v. W. Point Realty, Inc. as examples concerning standing. The court did not decide whether Dawson has standing.

Further Settlement Steps

If the parties could not settle the case themselves, they were also required to discuss whether additional settlement efforts through the court-annexed mediation program or before a magistrate judge would be productive.

Within 15 additional days—45 days after service of the summons and complaint—the parties must submit a joint letter stating 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, and identify a preference between those options, or to proceed with an initial status conference.

Disposition

Judge Jennifer L. Rochon entered settlement and case-management directives. The order did not resolve the standing issue, any claim, or the merits of the action.