A federal judge has rejected Microsoft Corp's request to delay hearings on what sanctions should be applied against the software giant for violating US antitrust law.
The decision against delay means the remedy hearings remain on a parallel track with separate hearings on a proposed settlement of the case reached between the US Justice Department and nine other states.
The timing of these hearings is important, legal analysts say. Endorsement of the settlement, far in advance of hearings on further remedies, would make the dissenting states' effort to get stronger sanctions much more difficult, they have said.
US District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly stuck to her timetable for remedy hearings beginning March 11th even though Microsoft complained that nine states still pursuing the case had dramatically expanded the scope of possible sanctions.
Microsoft also complained that it was having difficulty obtaining documents from some companies named as witnesses in the remedy proceedings by the nine states.