ORDER that the Motion for Extension (ECF No. 24 ) is granted. It is further ORDERED that: Plaintiff shall respond to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 13 ) or otherwise amend her complaint pursuant to Rule 15 by February 27,2026. Defendants shall file their Answers and any other motion respecting an Amended Complaint by March 19, 2026, or file, by March 12,2026, a reply brief if Plaintiff opposes their Motion to Dismiss. Signed by District Judge Robert E. Payne on 2/6/2026. (jenjones, )

District Judge Robert E. Payne granted a motion for extension on February 6, 2026, setting new deadlines in this active case. The plaintiff must respond to the defendants' Motion to Dismiss or file an amended complaint by February 27, 2026.

This response deadline follows the defendants' initial Motion to Dismiss, docketed as ECF No. 13. After the plaintiff's filing, the defendants have until March 19, 2026, to file their answers or any motions related to the amended complaint.

If the plaintiff opposes the Motion to Dismiss, the defendants must submit a reply brief by March 12, 2026. These scheduling orders aim to clarify the pleadings before the case proceeds further.

The court's order reflects a common procedural step in federal litigation where a plaintiff is given a chance to fix defects in the complaint after a motion to dismiss. The plaintiff’s deadline to amend or respond under Rule 15 signals the court’s preference to resolve issues without dismissing the case outright.

The defendants’ deadlines to answer or move again ensure the case moves forward promptly after the plaintiff’s filing. Judge Payne’s management of these deadlines indicates the case remains in its early stages, focused on defining the claims and defenses.

The docket does not reveal the underlying facts or claims at issue. The parties are currently engaged in briefing over the sufficiency of the plaintiff’s complaint. The court’s order does not address the merits of the Motion to Dismiss but simply sets the timeline for the next round of filings.

This procedural posture is typical when defendants challenge the legal adequacy of the complaint before discovery begins.

Watch for the plaintiff’s amended complaint or response by late February 2026. That filing will shape the scope of the case going forward. The defendants’ subsequent answer or motion will test whether the plaintiff’s revisions meet legal standards.

The court’s deadlines suggest it will resolve these preliminary issues before allowing the case to proceed to discovery or trial preparation.