The California High Court today granted the defendant paint companies' request for an extension in the briefing schedule in the case of Santa Clara v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County, the public nuisance lawsuit  in which the current arguments focus on the appropriateness of contingency fee agreements between municipalities and private plaintiff attorneys.

The schedule now stands as follows:

• Defense opening brief due Oct. 6
• Municipalities' response due Dec. 22
• Defendants' reply due Feb. 10, 2009