Judge Sets Paramount-WBD Antitrust Trial For March A federal judge has scheduled the antitrust trial for the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger for March 2 to March 19 of next year, marking a significant development in the legal battle over the deal. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, based in Oakland, ruled that the trial will proceed with sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., including two 15-minute breaks, and will be adjourned on March 8 and March 15. The decision aligns with the timeline requested by state attorneys general and the Writers Guild America, who opposed the merger, rather than the earlier fall start date favored by Paramount. Paramount had sought a November trial date, arguing that an earlier start would allow the company to address the financial penalties tied to the merger’s delay. The deal, which requires the transaction to close by June 4 of next year, includes a $7 million daily fee for every day the merger remains unresolved after September 30. Paramount also faces a $7 billion termination fee if the merger fails due to regulatory issues. The judge has not set a timeline for her final decision after the trial. The state attorneys general, led by California’s Rob Bonta, and the Writers Guild America filed a lawsuit to block the merger, citing antitrust concerns. The judge’s ruling comes after the states secured a temporary restraining order to halt the merger’s closure in July. Paramount had previously moved to expedite the trial, but the court’s decision to delay the trial until March has raised concerns about the financial burden on the company. Paramount’s legal team warned that a trial after February 19, when the U.S.#california #paramount #warner_bros_discovery #us_district_judge_araceli_martinez_olguin #writers_guild_america
