The coalition of 18 states that sued Microsoft for antitrust violations splintered Tuesday, with two-thirds poised to settle the case and the others determined to go to trial. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly consulted with the court-appointed mediator after getting an update on the negotiations. Lawyers struggled to salvage the tentative settlement struck last week in the landmark monopoly case. The deal to settle the 4-year-old antitrust charges was reached between the Justice Department and Microsoft, but the states asked they be given until Tuesday to evaluate the terms. Six of the states negotiated some additional terms.
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