Mustang Drilling v. United States of America

Filing 25

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 24 Motion to Extend Deadline. ADR deadline is extended to December 15, 2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker on October 27, 2017. (js)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
EASTERN DIVISION
MUSTANG DRILLING COMPANY, LLC

PLAINTIFF

v.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:16-cv-215-KS-MTP

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEFENDANT
ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the parties’ Joint Motion to Extend Deadline for
Mediation or Settlement Conference [24]. On April 26, 2017, the Court entered a Case
Management Order [18] which directed the parties to schedule and complete a private mediation
or settlement conference by the discovery deadline—November 1, 2017. On October 25, 2017,
the parties filed the instant Motion [24], complaining that the ADR deadline corresponds with
the discovery deadline and does not allow the parties an opportunity to obtain discovery and
fully evaluate their positions. The parties seek a 90-day extension of the ADR deadline.
The Local Rules, however, provide as follows:
The ADR deadline will be a date no later than the close of the discovery period and
preferably sooner, subject to the particularities of the case. The ADR deadline
should permit sufficient time for discovery necessary to enable the parties to have
an effective medication or settlement conference, but be sufficiently in advance of
the discovery deadline to encourage early discovery and the avoidance of
unnecessary expense.
See L.U. Civ. R. 83.7(f)(2).
The Court does not find good cause to grant the parties requested 90-day extension.
However, the Court will extend the ADR deadline to December 15, 2017. This should provide
the parties more than sufficient time to complete discovery, evaluate their positions, and
complete a mediation.
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IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1. The Joint Motion to Extend Deadline for Mediation or Settlement Conference [24] is
GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
2. The deadline for the parties to schedule and complete a mediation is extended to
December 15, 2017.
SO ORDERED this the 27th day of October, 2017.
s/Michael T. Parker
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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