1.   Also to be argued is a defense motion to consolidate the cases in California.

2.   Because of the importance of the issues, we granted both petitions and consolidated the cases for argument.

3.   But lawyers for the plaintiff, Harry N. Jacobs, a Democrat who lives in Seminole County, argued against consolidating the cases.

4.   Denvir said Tuesday that he would consider asking for the New Jersey case to be consolidated with the Sacramento case.

5.   Efforts at consolidating the cases to try to put some cap on liability have met with mixed success.

6.   In September, a judge in a Jacksonville, Florida, federal court consolidated those cases into one national class-action suit.

7.   Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that consolidating the cases before a single judge would be the most efficient way to present the cases and would prevent inconsistent rulings.

8.   Neuwirth said the Boies-Scruggs group would seek to have the cases consolidated by the multidistrict panel of federal judges in late July.

9.   Oregon, California and Washington also sued, and the two cases were consolidated.

10.   Smith, the Justice Department lawyer, said the government has not taken a position on a reparations bill but will probably request that the two cases be consolidated.