EFTA00235314.pdf

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No. 08-80736-Civ-Marra/Johnson JANE DOES #1 and #2, Petitioners, v. UNITED STATES, Respondent. STATUS REPORT Respondent, United States of America, by and through its undersigned counsel, files this Status Report, with concurrence of counsel for Petitioners, to inform the Court of the status of this matter. I. On October 28, 2010, the Court filed its Order reopening the matter and stated that it would "allow the parties to continue their attempt to resolve this matter. In the event that the parties cannot reach a resolution, the Court will schedule a status conference to determine how this case will proceed." (DE 44 at 1-2.) 2. The parties have continued to meet telephonically and in person in an attempt to resolve this matter but have not yet reached a resolution. 3. Based upon recent communications received from Petitioners' counsel, the U.S. Attorney's Office has determined that it must seek an opinion from the Justice Department regarding whether it can continue to represent the United States in this matter, or whether outside counsel from another part of the Justice Department is required. 4. The undersigned and AUSA have communicated this decision to counsel for Petitioners, and have explained that this will necessarily suspend activity on the case until an opinion is obtained and, if necessary, new counsel is in place. 5. Petitioners have agreed with the filing of this Status Report to inform the Court of this development and to ask the Court to allow the parties additional time to determine whether resolution of the matter is possible. 6. Consistent with the Court's Order, (DE44,) once this interim question of representation is decided, the parties will continue their attempts to resolve this case. If the parties determine that resolution without court intervention is impossible, one or both parties will ask the Court to set the matter for a Status Conference. Respectfully submitted, WIFREDO A. FERRER UNITED STATES ATTORNEY By: s/ Assistant U.S. Attome West Palm Beach, FL 33401 EFTA00235314 E-mail: Attorney for Respondent CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that on December 16, 2010, I electronically filed the foregoing document with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF. 51 Assistant U.S. Attorney SERVICE LIST Jane Does 1 and 2 v. United States, Case No. 08-80736-CIV-MARRA/JOHNSON United States District Court, Southern District of Florida Brad Edwards, Esq., Farmer Jaffe Weissing Edwards Fistos Lehrman 425 N Andrews Ave Ste 2 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-3268 Paul G. Cassell Ronald N. Boyce Presidential Professor of Criminal Law S.J. uinne Colle e of Law at the University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0730 Attorneys for Petitioners EFTA00235315