"A lot of nothing doesn't add up to something," said John Warden, the company's lead lawyer.

Stanley Chesley, one of the lead lawyers for the plaintiffs, declined to comment.

So is Stephen Kaufman, who will serve as the owner's lead lawyer for the hearing.

Ms. Sloan, the plaintiffs' lead lawyer, said she would be paid for 15 years of legal work only if her side won.

And the case has made a star of the plaintiff's lead lawyer.

But his lead lawyer said he was confident the Iraq veteran would be exonerated.

The six interim lead lawyers have not responded to calls.

Stephen Kaufman, the owner's lead lawyer in the hearing phase of the case, declined to comment on the list.

Under federal securities reform legislation enacted in 1995, the criterion for selecting a lead lawyer was changed.

"It's not what I wanted," said the plaintiffs' lead lawyer.