(06-27-2014 12:12 PM)stever20 Wrote: think someone brought it up a month or so ago- but we may see more visable progress on the ACC network when the Maryland situation is complete.
Speaking of that- I'm kind of surprised nothing has gotten done yet on that. Would have thought for sure it'd be finalized prior to June 30.
Why are people surprised that no settlement has happened?
Litigation in state court is usually a fairly long, drawn out process.
This case might settle in mediation. Has a date even been scheduled?
Does anyone know?
It may not settle in mediation, which means that a discovery cutoff date and a deposition schedule must be established.
Does anyone know how many witnesses will be deposed? Will it take four months, six months or more?
How is the NC judge's docket?
Does it take a year or a year and a half (or more) from the date a trial date is requested (I don't think that one was requested by the lawyers yet) to get sufficient open dates for what may be a long trial?
In Louisiana, most courts will not even give you a trial date until you certify that all discovery is done and the case is completely ready to try.
Then, a trial date is set at a Pre-Trial Conference with the judge. At that point, even a week long jury trial cannot be booked earlier than a year out from the date of the Pre-Trial Conference since the trial docket is full until then.
Will the settlement, if it happens, occur right before that trial date? On the courthouse steps (I have been involved in those)?
(Some cases don't settle until after the jury is selected or even after the trial begins. I have been involved in those, too)
Why does anyone think that July 1st or any other date has any special meaning to the ACC, its lawyers and the judge, for instance?