Twitter-Musk trial nonetheless on observe, for now – choose (NYSE:TWTR)

Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) and Elon Musk are nonetheless on a collision course for an Oct. 17 trial to settle the destiny of their $44B buyout, the choose presiding over the matter signifies, although the events are in talks about what to do subsequent.

“The events haven’t filed a stipulation to remain this motion, nor has any social gathering moved for a keep,” Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick says in a Wednesday afternoon ruling.

“I, due to this fact, proceed to press on towards our trial set to start on October 17, 2022.”

That opening got here on a ruling on the matter of sanctions sought by Twitter over the Musk staff’s manufacturing of textual content/immediate messages, despatched by and from Musk.

A few of the points there have been rendered moot by ongoing developments within the case, McCormick notes.

However one concern raised by Twitter struck a chord: The corporate sought manufacturing of 19 texts exchanged between Musk and his lawyer Alex Spiro, solely three of which have been known as privileged by the protection. “For the avoidance of doubt,” Musk’s staff is ordered to “produce or log any of those messages which are responsive” to Twitter’s request.

And when it got here to messages despatched aside from by textual content (notably Musk’s use of private-message service Sign): “To the extent that Defendants [Musk et al.] haven’t finished so already, Defendants are ordered to gather and produce responsive iMessages and non-SMS immediate messages in Musk’s information from Might 24 by way of Might 30 and June 1 by way of June 7,” together with another messages wanted to place these messages in context.

Musk’s custodians permitted the auto-deletion of sure Sign communications “and that these communications are irretrievably misplaced,” McCormick says, although the time-frame of the deletions is unclear, as is the suitable treatment. So she is reserving a call on sanctions for the post-trial document.

Twitter inventory (TWTR) pared its day’s losses in a leg up at noon, and continues to be down simply 0.6% for the session.

Earlier: Twitter joins market decrease as eyes flip as to whether Musk deal can shut shortly