The NFL lockout lawsuit spawned a claim by retirees which wasn't quite resolved in the bigger deal between the league owners and players.
During a case management conference, Judge Nelson quickly suggested talks with Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who brokered the original agreement that ended the lockout but did not settle the retirees' still-pending lawsuit.
Judge-directed settlement talks have been a theme of the recent negotiations in this litigation. In motivating the claimants to settle, she hinted that the case would be difficult likening it to "pushing a rock up a hill."
However, rather than ordering mediation, she told the three sides to sit down with Boylan for informal talks. Subsequently, lawyers for all sides said the discussions produced no agreement or date for additional mediation.
Perhaps a formal order of referral to mediation would have made them take things more seriously? The next scheduled hearing is not until September 15th.
See more at: http://bit.ly/r49vZa
