Where have you been...

What you say is quite possible. Especially, when defense counsel are ready to capitulate to demands of plaintiff and they so advise their clients, but then the company needs to get the decision makers to acquiesce to the lawyers recommendtions...

In such matters, the parties are obliged to inform the Court of developments, which in effect delays the matter for a time period requested by the parties...

The way this case was tried by DM and the TEAC settlement, and the Monday CC announced by company certainly give credence to such a development...

What makes me doubt this is the fact that DM really wants their MARKMAN RULING before they file TIER III and final complaint. If they engage in a global settlement with all defendants they have to start all over again, for yet another attempt to get their MARKMAN RULING, and that does not make sense because they could not get a better setting than what they already have been through...

It is also possible, for the Court to agree to issue their decision, let's say by 4:30 P.M. Friday, and the parties have a Global Deal to settle the current cases by 4 P.M. Friday...

Gil...