JOINT MOTION TO STAY CASE

DEADLINES IN LIGHT OF POTENTIAL

RICHARD F. BOULWARE, II, District Judge.

The United States of America, Capital One, N.A. ("Capital One"), SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC ("SFR"), and Anthem Country Club Association ("Anthem"), collectively, "the parties" hereby request that the Court stay the proceedings, including all current deadlines, for thirty (30) days in light of a potential settlement for some or all of the claims.1 In support of their request, the parties submit the following:

Joint Pretrial Order Deadline: June 27, 2018. However, pursuant to LR 26-1(b)(5), if the parties file dispositive motions the joint pretrial order will be due within 30 days after the last decision on any dispositive motions.

2. This case concerns competing claims to the same piece of real property. The parties had previously requested an extension of the case deadlines in part to allow newly added defendants to be served, and to facilitate discovery after the two underlying cases were consolidated. (See ECF No. 78). The parties have been actively participating in written discovery and document productions, and have noticed at least four depositions amongst them.

3. The parties have also been discussing possible resolution of some or all of their competing claims. Such resolution may involve one or more parties disclaiming an interest in the property, and/or agreements between two or more of the parties as to the priority of their respective claims or liens. The parties believe they can reach a stipulation as to at least some of the claims, but given that there are two consolidated cases, four parties that have appeared to date, and various claims, counter- and cross-claims, it will take some time to reduce such agreements to writing and to obtain approval from all parties and the Court.

4. However, given the April 27, 2018, discovery deadline, the parties will be required to continue discovery and conduct depositions that may ultimately prove unnecessary. Moreover, both SFR and Capital One have noticed depositions of a witness for the United States under Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(6). The United States has objected to the proposed topics, and while the parties are attempting to negotiate in good faith, they may need to engage in motions practice to resolve these disputes.

5. There are also three pending motions before the Court. (ECF Nos. 49, 58, and 82). A stipulation may resolve some or all of these disputed issues without the need for Court intervention.

6. The parties thus propose that all case deadlines be stayed for 30 days to allow a potential stipulation to be drafted, approved by the parties, and submitted for the Court's approval. The parties propose that if they have not resolved all of their claims within 30 days, they submit a report to the Court and propose a new schedule, the dates for which would depend on the number of issues that remain unresolved.

7. Good cause exists for the request. It is made not to hinder or delay the proceedings, but to allow the parties to finalize a potential stipulation. The parties have engaged in initial discussions based on their review of the existing discovery record, including a fourparty conference call on March 9, 2018, and believe that there is a real possibility of at least partial settlement. Focusing their energies on further negotiations could save the parties significant time and expense, especially with respect to depositions, and may save the Court's resources as well.

WHEREFORE, the parties respectfully propose that all pending deadlines be stayed for 30 days to allow the parties to discuss a partial or complete settlement. If all claims are not resolved within 30 days, the parties will submit a report to the Court and propose appropriate scheduling deadlines for any issues not resolved.

IT IS SO ORDERED.