COSTCO JUDGE ISSUES STAY

On Thursday evening, Judge Marsha Pechman issued a stay in the Costco case through May 1, which is through the end of Washington State's 2007 legislative session. Also, she ruled that no bond will be required (during oral arguments on the motion for a stay, the Judge had discussed the possibility of requiring a bond during the appeal process).

That is rare good news for Washington's three-tier advocates, but just a delay from Costco’s point of view. As Phil Wayt, the Executive Director of the Washington Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association said, "It takes some of the pressure off our continuing legal efforts while we decide how to approach the 9th Circuit for an indefinite stay."