Thursday, is mostly a "discovery hearing", so let's not over reach for for a settlement, after Thursday then and once the court decides on the existence of a case, which is definite, then those three companies will start scrambling for settlement. IMO
Or most likely file an extention. Would be great to hear of a settlement tho! But don't have my hopes up. The longer they drag it out the more it is going to cost the defendants! Extention, settlement, or plea ( which leads to a trial) are the only options I know of.