STIPULATION TO EXTEND BRIEFING SCHEDULE

ERICA P. GROSJEAN, Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff Luerether De Jean ("Plaintiff") and defendant Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting Commissioner of Social Security ("Defendant"), through their undersigned counsel of record, hereby stipulate, pursuant to the Court's Scheduling Order, to extend the time for Plaintiff to file Plaintiff's Opening Brief to March 24, 2017; and that Defendant shall have until April 24, 2017, to file her opposition. Any reply by plaintiff will be due May 9, 2017.

As the Court is aware, after a 5 year battle with terminal stage 4 cancer Plaintiff's Spouse passed away on September 30, 2016. The aftermath of this traumatic event on both Counsel and his 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter was immeasurable. Compounding the impact of this loss is the fact that Counsel's spouse was a former employee at Counsel's Law Firm and her death was far reaching in its impact on Counsel's professional life as well. Due to the death, the subsequent holiday period, and the need to find a permanent caregiver and the required time to acclimate his children to that presence during his absence to meet his professional obligations, Counsel requires the additional time to prepare and file Plaintiff's Opening Brief.

Counsel for plaintiff does not anticipate this extraordinary request for more time to become the rule and recognizes it is the extraordinary exception and sincerely apologizes to the court for any inconvenience this may have had upon it or its staff.

ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff may have an extension of time for Plaintiff to file Plaintiff's Opening Brief to March 24, 2017; and that Defendant shall have until April 24, 2017, to file her opposition. Any reply by plaintiff will be due May 9, 2017.

The Court expresses its condolences.

IT IS SO ORDERED.