Mr Riddle's decision will be sent to the sureties and the press, without an announcement being made in court.

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But unlike the first wave of litigation IV launched in December, the massive patent investment firm moved quietly, filing the lawsuit on Monday in federal court in Seattle without a big press announcement.

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Correspondents say the health ministry's announcement will make it difficult for her to avoid appearing in court.

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And a lot of questions raised by this, the ball being put squarely in Barack Obama's court after that announcement.

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The announcement comes just over a week before the US Supreme court will hear arguments in two cases related to gay marriage.

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The only real surprises came with the timing of the announcement and what Irving Picard, the court-appointed trustee, is trying to recover in damages for the victims.

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