A settlement next week does seem like the logical scenario. That is if PWC comes in with a reasonable offer. Otherwise, an appeal, as you state, is the most probable scenario, and that will incur more legal fees for all the parties involved.
Wish the Judge had ruled in the affirmative with the Fraud, as that would have been a slam dunk at the buzzer for the win. When I read the documents, and in your post, it appeared that the Judge upheld HLNT’s counter claim against NIR for Breach of Fiduciary Duty; shouldn’t that be sufficient grounds to negate HTI's obligation to convert the notes held by NIR?
Thanks Sparks for the excellent analysis and input.