ORDER

JOHN M. ROPER, Magistrate Judge.

This matter came before the Court on the Plaintiff's Motion for Fees and Expenses incurred as the result of Defendants' failure to timely advise the Court of a conflict with the scheduled settlement conference. The relevant facts leading up to this Motion are uncontested. On June 18, 2015, a Case Management Order was entered in this matter that set a settlement conference for November 3, 2015. On September 2, 2015, this Court amended the Order to provide that the settlement conference would occur before a different Magistrate Judge and at a slightly later time. On the day after the reminder notice was served, counsel for the Plaintiff made her appearance in this case. On October 28, counsel for the Defendants sent an email to Plaintiff's counsel, stating, "Counsel for Jackson Public Schools is currently in trial this week and will be in trial all week long on next week. I will need to request a continuance from the Court. Thank you." No request for a continuance was made.

November 3, 2015, was a Tuesday. Plaintiff traveled from Georgia to Mississippi the weekend before, so as to have time to meet with her attorney on Monday, November 2. On November 2, after the Court had emailed counsel a reminder of the settlement conference, defense counsel notified the Court that she was in a trial with another Judge of this Court, and the settlement conference was canceled. The docket entry canceling the settlement conference states:

This Motion followed.

The Court finds that the failure of counsel for the Defendants to notify the Court of the conflict created by her trial schedule does not substantially justify her noncompliance with the Court's Order setting the settlement conference in this case. The Court accepts the contention of counsel for the Defendants that the failure was inadvertent and not intended to show disrespect to the Court of the Plaintiff. However, the Court reminded counsel on numerous occasions that the conference had been scheduled. In addition to the original Case Management Order, two later docket entries reminded the parties that the conference would occur. It was only after an emailed reminder was served that defense counsel finally notified the Court of her conflict. At the time that the settlement conference was scheduled, Defendants' counsel was in trial in this Court in the case of Brookshire v. Jackson Public Schools, et al., Civil Action No. 3:13cv772HTW-LRA. A review of the docket in that case shows that the trial date was set by an Order entered on October 14, 2015, which was substantially later than the Order setting the settlement conference in this case. L.U. Civ. R. 16(k) states, with regard to conflicting settings, "[I]t is the absolute duty of counsel to inform the court of the later setting in order that the conflict might be resolved and calendars cleared for other settings. It is essential for counsel and the court or courts involved to resolve potential conflicts at the earliest practical date."

The Court also finds that an award of sanctions would not be unjust in this case. The Plaintiff is an individual and is proceeding in this case in forma pauperis. According to its website, Defendant Jackson Public Schools is the second largest school system in the State. The Plaintiff traveled to Jackson from Georgia by bus and stayed with relatives to comply with the Court's directive that she attend the settlement conference. This would have been unnecessary if a timely notice or request for a continuance had been made by the Defendants. In light of the difference in resources between the parties, the Court does not believe that compensating the Plaintiff for her costs and expenses is unjust in this circumstance.

An appropriate award to compensate the Plaintiff for the expenses incurred as the result of the Defendants' conduct can include out-of-pocket costs and attorney's fees. Bradley v. United States, 866 F.2d 120, 128 n. 13 (5th Cir. 1989). Here, the Plaintiff has presented the Court with the following categories of costs and expenses:

With regard to categories (a), (b), (c,), (e), and (f), the Court finds that the Plaintiff has presented legitimate expenses that should be awarded to the Plaintiff pursuant to Rule 16(f). The Court is not inclined to award compensation for expenses not directly related to her trip to Jackson; therefore, there will be no award for categories (d) or (g). The Court has reviewed the Plaintiff's claim for attorneys' fees and is of the opinion that preparation would have been required regardless of when the settlement conference occurred. Further, the Plaintiff failed to file a new settlement memorandum, relying on the prior submission. Thus, the Court awards no attorney's fees.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the Defendants pay to the Plaintiff the sum of $339.92 within ten days of the entry of this Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.