"DOVER, Del. —  A Delaware judge is considering Duke Energy's request for a six-month halt of a shareholder lawsuit prompted by a massive coal ash spill in North Carolina while the company tries to resolve related lawsuits and finalize a $102 million settlement of a federal criminal investigation.

After hearing arguments Tuesday, Vice Chancellor John Noble of Delaware's chancery court, which specializes in business disputes, declined to rule immediately. He said he would await the outcome of a hearing in North Carolina next week in the U.S. Department of Justice criminal case, which involves nine alleged misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act from the 2014 spill.

"We hope and expect that the DOJ matter will be resolved soon," said Kenneth Nachbar, an attorney for Duke Energy."

Randall Chase reports for the Associated Press  May 5, 2015. [2]