Preliminary schedule for state and private class action eBook price-fixing trials

PaidContent reports that the parties to the state and private class action eBook price-fixing lawsuits have agreed to a deadline for final preliminary filings of October 2013. That's four months after the date that the Justice Department's lawsuit against Apple. Macmillan and Penguin is set to begin. It also means that the state and private lawsuits wouldn't begin until some time in 2014. The Justice Department and states will share transcripts of depositions and other findings related to their investigations with the class action lawyers. There are talks with a mediator scheduled for this fall to consider a settlement of all the cases, but for now, that looks like more of a formality than a sign that a settlement is in the works.