Developing …

The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against Governor Dan McKee and the RI Department of Health, among others, has informed The Ocean State Current that a major break in the case may be close at hand.

Rich Southwell, one of over 3 dozen parent plaintiffs, was advised by their attorney, Gregory Piccirilli, that there has apparently been some “movement” towards a settlement to the 18 month-old case. This news, strangely, comes just 11 days after a prior settlement was rejected by the State of Rhode Island.

Further details were not specified and attorney Piccirilli could not be reached for comment. But obvious questions arise:

What constitutes the “movement” and who initiated it?

Is the settlement, presumably soon to be negotiated, the same settlement that was previously rejected? Or is one side about to propose a new settlement framework?

Is the State capitulating to public pressure following its March 10 refusal to settle? Was it embarrassed by the negative publicity? Here’s why we ask:

The Current’s March 10 Quick Pitch Breaking News Update video interview with Southwell went viral and has achieved over 4000 views (watch here beginning at the 2:45 minute mark).

Also, Coalition Radio posted extensive video interviews with the plaintiff team and all but embarrassed Governor McKee just days ago when reporter Pat Ford asked McKee about the rejected offer … with McKee (on video-tape) essentially confessing he had no idea what was going on.

How long will it take for this “movement” in the case to manifest in court?

Check back to this story for updated information as it becomes available to The Current.