Responding to documents filed in San Diego Superior Court, and a GameSpot News article posted yesterday, George Schultz - the attorney representing plaintiffs suing Electronic Arts and Origin Systems Inc. for alleged defects in Ultima Online - said, "It's just another attempt to take the focus . I'm extremely disappointed that Electronic Arts has again elected to take the attention away from the game. I am looking forward to responding in court."

　　Schultz said the scheduled hearing that took place on Tuesday also consisted of the presiding judge authorizing the class certification motion going ahead - it will be heard on September 18. In that hearing, the judge will determine if the named plaintiff pool can be expanded and be considered a class.

　　In an action like this, once the plaintiff group is certified by the court as a class, it can then include a greater number of people who can "benefit" from a decision in their favor. If certified, or approved by the court, the class would then include all purchasers of the game who sought damages from EA and Origin based on the previously stated damages and harm caused (as presented in Schultz's amended complaint of April 16, 1998).

　　What was determined in Tuesday's hearing, a pleased Schultz told GameSpot News, is that "class certification can go forward on September 18, and we're looking forward to prevailing on the two motions ."

　　As far as responding to certain language in the EA motion to compel, Schultz said "I don't believe I'm a racist or sexist." And he added, "I'm not going to stoop to those kinds of tactics."