dick cheney to be deposed -- and then on trial -- beginning september 11 2009

[do note the irony of that date.]

steven howards won an important set
of victories, in court, today. the dickster
(cheney) will likely be feelin' a pinch, tonight.

earlier, the court had granted howards
the right to take former vice-president
cheney's deposition -- today's order allows
howards' lawyers ample time to get that scheduled
and completed, well before a now-extended (to a
final september 11, 2009 conference) and a
september 9, 2009 trial date.

today's orders also prevented the dismissal
of several of the officer-defendants (on the grounds
of imunity). that is a very strong hint that this
one is going to turn on the particular facts dick
cheney either admits to, or has cross-examined out
of him -- at the coming civil deposition. were i
a betting man, and i am, i'd bet real money that
dick cheney will be counseled to settle -- before
the new trial date comes. i bet he'll sit for his depo,
but i think he'll get sufficiently "tangled up" there,
that he'll have few real option beyond agreeing to
pay mr. howards -- or end up being humiliated in a
very public five-day trial in the federal courthouse
in denver, colorado. and that is the way it should
probably go, afterall. take a look:

HEARING: Motions
9:00 a.m. Court in session.

Argument.

10:25 a.m. Court in recess.

10:37 a.m. Court in session.

Oral findings of facts, conclusions of law made of record.

ORDER: Defendants Reichle and Doyle’s Motion for Summary Judgment on the Basis of Qualified Immunity (155) is denied.

ORDER: Motion of Defendants Daniels and McLaughlin for Summary Judgment (156) is denied.

ORDER: Plaintiff Motion for Continuance of Trial (185) is granted. . . .

DEADLINES/HEARINGS:

Final Trial Preparation Conference reset to September 11, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

Five-day jury trial reset to September 28, 2009, at 9:00 a.m.

10:56 a.m. Court in recess/hearing concluded.

Total in-court time: 1:44