Watchmen Lawsuit Pt. 17: Timing The Next Steps in The Case

The judge in the Watchmen case ruled for Fox on their original summary judgment motion but the contract claims and damages are still dangling. Some are presenting arguments about why the Watchmen case will not go to trial but the case moves on and the flow of trial-related filings continues unabated. For example, various responses to Motions in Limine were filed by Fox and Warner Brothers on December 31, 2008. A summary of past and future dates provides a realistic picture of where the case is headed. These times were pulled from various court documents (corrections are welcome where necessary). The appeal deadline is based on Rules 4 and 26 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. The proposed time line is as follows:

• Order granting Fox's Summary Judgment Motion entered on December 24, 2008;
  
• lodging of all pre-trial conference documents, including settlement status report, by December 31, 2008;
• filing of pre-trial conference order by January 2, 2009;
• holding pre-trial conference on January 7, 2009;
• starting trial on January 20, 2009;
  
• filing an appeal of December 24, 2008 order by January 23, 2009; and
  
• releasing Watchmen movie on March 6, 2009.