Case 1:97-cv-00582-MMS
Document 32
Filed 12/22/2006
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS ALGONQUIN HEIGHTS, ET AL., Plaintiffs, v. THE UNITED STATES, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
No. 97-582C Judge Robert H. Hodges, Jr.
JOINT MOTION TO ENLARGE DISCOVERY SCHEDULE The parties jointly request that the Court modify the schedule in this case to enlarge the period for discovery on ripeness, through and including May 31, 2007, and state the following as grounds for the requested relief: Pursuant to the Court's order dated July 12, 2006, the parties previously filed a joint status report outlining, among other things, a proposed discovery schedule in this case. Specifically, the parties proposed a discovery deadline of January 31, 2007. On August 14, 2006, the Court entered an order (the "Order") that, among other things, endorsed the January 31, 2007 discovery deadline. Since the entry of the Court's order, the parties have been actively engaged in discovery. The plaintiffs have produced more than 90,000 pages of documents pursuant to the Government's document production requests on a "rolling basis," and are in the process of preparing responses to the Government's written discovery requests. The Government is also in the process of producing documents and responding to the plaintiff's discovery requests. Because this case involves dozens of properties located throughout the country, however, the task of locating and reviewing documents in the files of plaintiffs and multiple HUD offices has been a time-consuming and logistically challenging process.
Case 1:97-cv-00582-MMS
Document 32
Filed 12/22/2006
Page 2 of 4
Although both the plaintiffs and defendant have worked diligently and cooperatively to meet their respective discovery obligations, they do not anticipate that they will be able to complete discovery for the ripeness portion of this case within the original time period envisioned by the Order. The parties believe that the proposed additional time will help to assure that they have the information necessary to prepare their summary judgment briefs on the pending ripeness issues. Pursuant to the Order, the parties will file an additional joint status report after the close of discovery proposing a briefing schedule for summary judgment motions on ripeness. This is the first time the parties have asked for an extension in the discovery deadline. They do not believe that any other modifications in the Order are appropriate at this time. No trial date has been set in this case. WHEREFORE, the parties respectfully request that the deadline to complete discovery on ripeness in this matter be extended through and including May 31, 2007. Respectfully submitted: PETER D. KEISLER Assistant Attorney General DAVID M. COHEN Director s/ Brian M. Simkin BRIAN M. SIMKIN Assistant Director
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Case 1:97-cv-00582-MMS
Document 32
Filed 12/22/2006
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s/ Harry J. Kelly Harry J. Kelly NIXON PEABODY LLP 401 Ninth Street, N.W., Suite 900 Washington, D.C. 20004 (202) 585-8000 Attorneys for the Plaintiffs
/s David A. Harrington DAVID A. HARRINGTON Trial Attorney Commercial Litigation Branch Civil Division Department of Justice 1100 L Street, N.W. Attn: Classification Unit 8th Floor Washington, D.C. 20530 (202) 616-0465 (202) 307-0972 (fax) Attorneys for Defendant
December 22, 2006
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Case 1:97-cv-00582-MMS
Document 32
Filed 12/22/2006
Page 4 of 4
CERTIFICATE OF FILING I hereby certify that on the 22nd day of December, 2006, a copy of "JOINT MOTION TO ENLARGE DISCOVERY SCHEDULE" was filed electronically. I understand that notice of this filing will be sent to all parties by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system.
s/ David A. Harrington