12/06/18, 2:34 PM
John Stevens vs. Crooked River Ranch Special Road District, and John Williams, Commissioner, Defendant
Case No: 18 CV 03272
TIMELINE-Significant Events:
January 25, 2018, Plaintiff’s COMPLAINT filed in Jefferson County Court
March 10, 2018, Plaintiff’s NOTICE OF INTENT TO MOVE FOR ORDER OF DEFAULT filed
March 12, 2018, Defendant’s ANSWER, AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE and COUNTERCLAIM filed
April 02, 2018, PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE held at the Jefferson County Courthouse, FORMAL HEARING scheduled June 06, 2018
May 23, 2018, Defendant’s MOTION FOR ORDER TO CONTINUE filed
May 23, 2018 Defendant’s ORDER TO CONTINUE was granted and signed by Judge Daina A. Vitolins. READINESS HEARING scheduled for September 06, 2018 and new FORMAL HEARING scheduled for September 12, 2018
May 31, 2018, DEFENDANT’S FIRST REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION submitted
August 23, 2018, DESCHUTES COUNTY COUNSEL GRANTED Plaintiff’s request for a Waiver of FEES for Records based in part on Plaintiff’s Media Role as it relates to a matter of PUBLIC INTEREST
September 05, 2018, Former Special Road District Commissioners Monte Monteith and Samuel L. Wilkins Jr. served CIVIL SUBPOENAS
September 06, 2018, READINESS HEARING and Defendant’s MOTION FOR ORDER TO CONTINUE along with a MOTION FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE-Agreement Between Attorneys. The September 12, 2018, Trial Cancelled
September 06, 2018, Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Wells Ashby assigned as the Judicial Officer for the Settlement Conference scheduled for October 16, 2018
October 02, 2018, Submitted required confidential documents for Deschutes County Judge Wells Ashby’s review prior to Settlement Conference
October 12, 2018, Judge Substitution-Jefferson County Judge Daina Vitolins assigned as the Judicial Officer for the Settlement Conference
October 16, 2018, Settlement Conference held in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Judge Daina Vitolins presided. Plaintiff John Stevens represented by Portland attorney Robert Birk along with Defendant/SRD Commissioner John Williams and SRD Commissioner Mike Schlabach, represented by Madras attorney Timothy Gassner were in attendance
Some Highlights:
Judge Daina Vitolins facilitated the conference that included the parties shuttling between the courtroom and the judge’s chambers where she met with each party individually and privately.
Typical Offer and Counter-Offer negotiations occurred and a Settlement was reached. John Williams agreed to turn over withheld public records, including records he obtained from Deschutes and Jefferson County during the course of the proceedings and have his personal computer hard drive analyzed for additional public records.
The subject of attorney fees was another hot topic and Judge Vitolins indicated she was told “they have no money and no insurance coverage.” We also were told the insurance carrier submitted a letter prior to the Settlement Conference substantiating the above.
Finally, Williams agreed to allow the court to determine whether Plaintiff is entitled to his attorney fees at a hearing scheduled for January 25, 2018 (sic) at 9:00 a.m.
See LIMITED JUDGMENT Below
