ORDER

NANCY J. KOPPE, Magistrate Judge.

Pending before the Court is an order for Plaintiff to show cause why the Court should not dismiss Defendant Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") for lack of service. Docket No. 50. Plaintiff has filed a response that a proof of service for MERS was filed in state court, but that MERS has not responded to the answer in light of an earlier stay and more recent settlement discussions. Docket No. 56 at 3. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure establish a deadline to respond to the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(2) (addressing deadline for cases that are removed). "That's a mandate, not a mere suggestion." State Compensation Ins. Fund v. Capen, 2016 WL 9083270, at *1 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 16, 2016). Regardless of the impact of the stay on that deadline, it has undoubtedly lapsed at this point. See Docket No. 47 (lifting stay). MERS has not responded to the complaint, nor has any party requested a Court order allowing an extension of the deadline to do so.

The Court hereby ORDERS that, no later than April 4, 2019, either (1) MERS shall file a response to the complaint, (2) dismissal papers shall be filed for MERS, or (3) a request to extend the deadline for MERS to respond to the complaint shall be filed. The Court DISCHARGES the order to show cause for lack of service. The Court lastly ORDERS Plaintiff to serve MERS a copy of its response to the order to show cause (Docket No. 56)1 and a copy of this order, and to file a proof of service by March 25, 2019.

IT IS SO ORDERED.