Terminating HG as a condition to settlement is neither realistic nor likely.
I believe that perhaps HG's approach to resolving this and other litigation was viewed by the BOD as an impediment to the company.
Call it cold feet if you want, but I believe the BOD wants new blood to work a settlement and negotiate it fast to avoid the tremendous risk associated with an outright loss. If we lose, we are screwed....period. HG, and maybe Rip, had the balls to risk it. However, the collective male parts of the BOD suffer shrinkage as each day passes.
IMO we will see a prompt resolution with Nok and Sam for quite a few dollars less than expected. There is no other reason for the shakeup at this stage of the game.