"So it just seems to me the 30 days should have allowed for that and not permitted negotiating up till the 11 hour."

Well, I have now spoken with 3 patent attorneys, and all came to the same conclussion that a settlement is in the works. I asked the last attorney I spoke with the question:

My Question: 

"If there truly is a settlement in the works, and if it isn't finalized in the 30 day time period, would we see an extension or request for more time filed in Pacer, and is this common?"

His reply:

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. He said it is NOT uncommon for the 30th day to pass with no news, and than 2 weeks later a settlement is announced. One thing he was sure of, JW wants a settlement, therefore it is highly unlikely that he would push a court date out for the simple reason that it his leverage to induce the parties into settling therefore removing the case from his docket"

So, my friends, my advice is to be patient, relax, enjoy the holidays, and the news will come as soon as they are good and ready. It could just be that no news is good news. Lastly, all attorneys said they would be surprised if #'s were announced regardless of $$ amounts.

Good luck to you, me, us, and all longs.