Based on all the great posts the past few days, this is my speculation as to what has happened. Please take all this with a grain of salt:

On Sept 25, J3 showed up and said they were interested in mediating but they weren't about to do this without guidance from Judge Ward on Higgins et al. Remember, everything is completely private/confidential to the max. We know nuttin.

With everyones permission, Judge Faulkner approached Judge Ward to obtain a decision on these cases. Judge Ward might have said if you want a ruling this is the way to do it and NEC wrote up the pacer with action by PTSC to be written by the 12th, with a response by NEC following.

Mediation went to impasse without these results. Mediation will probably be continued once a decision is made by Judge Ward which probably will not occur until right before the SHM.

Changes, additions,deletions to this scenario are very welcome.