can be 6 months (if settlement is the purpose), can be 5+ years, depending on complexity and participants (in a local federal court involving auto equipment, after multiple appeals, etc., it was almost 8 years before resolution, and by that time, plaintiff was in essence bankrupt, and the only winners (guess who) the lawyers - although i guess the auto company ultimately won by attrition. the problem is, no matter who wins, it will not be the shareholders (unless the winning is equally delayed).