This is Roger Phillips, filling in for the vacationing Scott Smith:
Still no decision from Judge Christopher Klein following yesterday’s retiree health-care hearing in Sacramento. The room was packed with retirees who listened to the proceedings, though they were not invited to participate.
The makeup of the retirees’ legal team, and how its skills were deployed, was curious. Attorney George Emblidge presented the retirees’ arguments while attorney Kathryn Zoglin listened nearby. Zoglin is the expert on bankruptcy; Emblidge said he is a business litigator who had never been in bankruptcy court before yesterday.
At one point, Emblidge admitted to Klein he was unsure about an arcane point of bankruptcy law. He asked Klein if he could consult with Zoglin.
“Would you like a lifeline?” Klein asked Emblidge, the only light moment in the 70-minute hearing. Klein allowed Emblidge to briefly consult with Zoglin.
