Wong v. Board of Education

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT

JAMES WONG and SUZANNE HOY,

Plaintiffs,

v. No. 3:16-cv-1873 (VAB)

BOARD OF EDUCATION, Defendant.

ORDER

On October 17, 2016, James Wong and Suzanne Hoy (“Plaintiffs”) filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education of Southington, Connecticut (“Southington”) alleging the defendant violated their son’s right to an appropriate education under state and federal special education statutes. Notice of Removal, ECF No. 1 (Nov. 15, 2016). On October 23, 2018, following a post-discovery telephonic status conference, the parties were referred to the Honorable Holly F. Fitzsimmons for a settlement conference. ECF No. 34- 35 (Oct. 23, 2018). On April 16, 2019, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ counsel’s motion to withdraw as attorney. Order, ECF No. 57 (Apr. 16, 2019). Since then, the case has stagnated. On November 20, 2019, the Court held a status conference. Minute Entry, ECF No. 68 (Nov. 20, 2019). The parties indicated that settlement was unlikely, and Southington requested more clarification on deadlines for dispositive motions. Consistent with this Court’s inherent authority to manage its docket with a “view toward the efficient and expedient resolution of cases,” Dietz v. Bouldin, 136 S. Ct. 1885, 1892 (2016), the Court sua sponte issues the following orders. Plaintiffs must either have an attorney enter an appearance on their behalf or enter appearances as pro se self-represented litigants by December 20, 2019. If Plaintiffs fail to do either by December 20, 2019, then Southington may file a dispositive motion by January 17, 2020, and the Court will consider if the case can be

successfully prosecuted, or if it must be dismissed. SO ORDERED at Bridgeport, Connecticut, this 20th day of November, 2019. /s/ Victor A. Bolden Victor A. Bolden United States District Judge