JOINT STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER TO EXTEND MERITS BRIEFING AND HEARING SCHEDULE

MAXINE M. CHESNEY, District Judge.

The parties to the above-captioned litigation, by and through their respective counsel of record, hereby stipulate and request as follows:

WHEREAS, the Court ordered a briefing and hearing schedule on the merits on May 16, 2017 (ECF 225) and then that schedule was extended on July 27, 2017 to accommodate ongoing settlement discussions between the parties (ECF 230);

WHEREAS, the parties remain actively engaged in ongoing settlement discussions;

WHEREAS, the parties require more time to complete their negotiations and are in agreement that an extension of time is necessary and appropriate;

WHEREAS, this is the second joint request that the parties have made seeking an extension of the briefing deadlines laid out in the Court's initial May 16, 2017 order;

WHEREAS, this stipulation will have a minimal impact on timing, as it will only push back the hearing on the merits by two months from the originally scheduled date (see ECF 225);

WHEREAS, the parties have met and conferred, and agreed upon the procedure and briefing schedule below;

THEREFORE, the parties jointly stipulate, subject to the Court's approval:

1. Plaintiffs will file their opening brief on the merits on October 2, 2017.

2. Defendants will file their opposition brief on the merits on October 30, 2017.

3. Plaintiffs will file their reply brief on the merits on November 20, 2017.

4. The Court will hold a hearing to discuss the merits on December 15, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.

5. The parties agree that only one brief will be submitted on the merits, and that brief will address all twelve related cases.

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED THAT:

1. Plaintiffs will file their opening brief on the merits on October 2, 2017.

2. Defendants will file their opposition brief on the merits on October 30, 2017.

3. Plaintiffs will file their reply brief on the merits on November 20, 2017.

4. The Court will hold a hearing to discuss the merits on December 15, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.

5. Only one brief will be submitted on the merits, and that brief will address all twelve related cases.