State Attorneys General and Paramount Set Discovery Schedule Ahead of Antitrust Trial
Plaintiffs and defendants in the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger case filed a joint schedule for discovery, with trial slated for March and significant financial penalties tied to delays.
Attorneys for 12 state attorneys general, the Writers Guild of America and the companies Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery filed a joint case-management statement outlining key dates for the antitrust lawsuit over the proposed merger. The filing sets fact discovery to begin on Aug. 17 and to conclude on Jan. 8, a period that often sparks disputes between parties.
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín has already scheduled the trial for March 2-19. The timeline could generate more than $1 billion in daily “ticking fees” for Paramount if the merger is not completed by Sept. 30, and a $7 billion termination fee would apply if the deal expires on June 4.
California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra and labor groups including the Directors Guild of America and IATSE have urged a settlement, presenting a list of conditions for the transaction. The filing notes that the parties "are having constructive discussions regarding the identification of two alternative magistrate judges to preside over a settlement conference for the Actions and will provide a further update to the Court as soon as possible."
Disagreements remain over how trial time will be allocated. The state attorneys general and the Writers Guild propose eight of the 12 trial days, arguing the cases are distinct, while Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery contend the time should be divided equally. The judge has set an April 5 deadline for filing proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and a final pre-trial conference is scheduled for Feb. 24.