USONUITTEHDE RSTNA DTIESST RDIICSTT ROIFC TN ECWOU YROTR K -------------------------------------------------------------X : AHMED HEGAZY et al., : Plaintiffs, : : 22 Civ. 1880 (LGS) -against- : : ORDER THE HALAL GUYS, INC. et al., : Defendants. : -------------------------------------------------------------X LORNA G. SCHOFIELD, District Judge: WHEREAS, the initial pretrial conference in this matter is scheduled for May 4, 2022. WHEREAS, no significant issues were raised in the parties’ joint letter or proposed case management plan. It is hereby ORDERED that the May 4, 2022, initial pretrial conference is cancelled. If the parties believe that a conference would nevertheless be useful, they should inform the court immediately so the conference can be reinstated. The case management plan and scheduling order will issue in a separate order. The parties’ attention is particularly directed to the provisions for periodic status letters, and the need for a pre-motion letter to avoid cancellation of the final conference and setting of a trial date. It is further ORDERED that by May 4, 2022, given the lenient standard for conditional certification, see Varghese v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., Nos. 14 Civ. 1718, 15 Civ. 3023, 2016 WL 4718413, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 9, 2016) (“Plaintiff’s burden is minimal because the determination that the parties are similarly situated is merely a preliminary one . . . .” (quoting Lee v. ABC Carpet & Home, 236 F.R.D. 193, 197 (S.D.N.Y. 2006))), the parties shall meet and confer and file a letter apprising the Court of whether the parties will stipulate to conditional certification and the form of notice, reserving all of Defendants’ rights to object to any final certification under the more rigorous standard that applies at that stage. It is further ORDERED, regarding settlement discussions, if and when the parties are ready to proceed with a settlement conference with the assigned Magistrate Judge or mediation in the Court’s mediation program, they shall file a joint letter on ECF requesting a referral. The parties should be aware that the Court does not extend the deadlines for fact and expert discovery absent compelling circumstances. Dated: April 28, 2022 New York, New York . UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE