I usually don't make predictions, because when I have done it in the past with IDCC I've usually been way wrong. So keep my low batting average in mind with this post of "my opinion" only.
I think IDCC will receive an award from the ICA, but the amount will be much less than many here hope for or what was indicated by Howard in his now infamous "watershed" cc. I'm thinking in the $75-$90 millions neighborhood. Less than we expected, but a nice "neighborhood" nonetheless.
I think that the realization of this likelyhood of a reduced award was made clear to the BOD after the arb hearings, and that was the impetus behind the board's action in removing Goldberg. Here's why...
Remember the NEC arb? We were led to believe, or at least IDCC was "estimating" as much as $300 million or so wasn't it? What did we get? $30 million? Less? That still turned out to be a pretty good number and led to NEC being one of our most important customers. But Howard was at least involved in putting out those high estimates, and we ended up with much less.
Then Ericsson... estimates for infringement ranged from 2-300 million to mickeybritt's billion or more. What do we end up with? About $30 million again. I don't know if Howard ever specifically put out an expected number, but he certainly did little to limit the speculation.
Now the NOK arb... Again, Howard publically talked about the watershed and he and Fagan were talking about $400 million owed. I believe after the NOK arb hearings the lawyers evaluated and reported to the company that it would likely be much less than $400 M. Now Harry may have gone along as before and said, "that's OK", but some of the other board members, especially the new ones balked. Yet again Howard put out high expectations to the stockholders and then the results come up short. The new board decided "That's not the way we should do business!" Fagan was probably spared because the "buck" stops with Howard... Rip was probably on the way out anyway.
Just my opinion, Later and Best, bulldzr