JudgeEllenSegalHuvelle

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  • AT&T asks judge to stay T-Mobile merger court proceedings until January 18th (update: granted)

    by 
    Michael Gorman
    Michael Gorman
    12.12.2011

    Just last week, the US Department of Justice indicated its desire to dismiss the lawsuit it filed to stop the union of AT&T and T-Mobile because of Ma Bell's withdrawal of the merger's FCC application. It looks like that's given the telco plenty more issues to ponder, so now it's asking Judge Huvelle to postpone further antitrust court proceedings until January 18. The folks at AT&T need the extra time to "evaluate all options" and "revise our current transaction to achieve the necessary regulatory approvals" for the merger. Because the DoJ has signed off on AT&T's petition, it seems likely the court will go along with the plan -- as opposed to killing the deal via a case dismissal at the hearing currently scheduled later this week. We'll have to wait and see if the Judge Huvelle grants the request, but if she does, this much is certain: Ma Bell's lawyers will be doing more work than merrymaking over the holidays. Update: It looks like Christmas came early for AT&T&T, as the New York Times reports that Judge Huvelle has granted the stay.