There is little official news following the December 30, 2011 and January 6, 2012 mediation orders from two judges involved with the Yaz litigation. The parties were ordered to mediate without delay and in good faith. Since that time, Judge Herndon, the federal judge overseeing Yaz cases has issued what’s known as a “minute order. ” This ordered, entered on January 10, 2012, puts most deadlines on hold for 60 days to give the parties an opportunity to focus on settlement without preparing for trial. In the event the mediation breaks down and Plaintiffs are unable to obtain a Yaz settlement, the judge has ordered that the first case will be scheduled for trial on April 30, 2012.
If a Yaz settlement does not occur in the next two months, then hopefully this pause for mediation will not cause too much delay in the existing schedule, and bellwether trials will keep the litigation moving.
