What the press release actually says
The PRâŻNewswire release issued by the Law Offices of HowardâŻG.âŻSmith onâŻAugustâŻ8,âŻ2025 announces that investors who suffered âsubstantial lossesâ in LockheedâŻMartin (NYSEâŻ:LMT) have the opportunity to lead a securitiesâfraud classâaction lawsuit.âŻThe release, however, does not give a precise filing date for the complaint, nor does it spell out an exact window for when a settlement or judgment might be reached.
Instead, the language used in the release is deliberately vague, reflecting the fact that the firm is still in the preâfiling stage (collecting evidence, confirming class certification, etc.). The key passages are:
| Passage (as quoted in the release) | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| âInvestors with substantial losses have the opportunity to lead the securitiesâfraud classâaction lawsuit against LockheedâŻMartin.â | The case is being organized, but the complaint has not yet been filed. |
| âIf you believe you qualify, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your potential role.â | The firm is urging interested investors to come forward immediately, implying that the filing will occur in the near future once the lead plaintiffs are identified. |
| No specific dates such as âfiling expected on __â or âsettlement anticipated by __â appear anywhere in the text. | The timeline is intentionally left open. |
What can be inferred about the timeline?
Even though the press release does not give concrete dates, we can draw reasonable expectations based on how securitiesâfraud class actions normally progress:
| Phase | Typical timeâframe (from the date of the press release) | How it applies here |
|---|---|---|
| Leadâplaintiff recruitment & class certification preparation | 2â4âŻweeks (sometimes longer if many potential plaintiffs are contacted) | The firm is actively soliciting leads; expect this to wrap up by late Augustâearly SeptemberâŻ2025. |
| Filing of the complaint in federal court | 4â8âŻweeks after leadâplaintiff identification, depending on docket and discovery needs | A realistic filing window would be midâSeptember to earlyâŻOctoberâŻ2025. |
| Courtâinitiated case management & discovery | 6â12âŻmonths (discovery can be intense in securitiesâfraud matters) | If the complaint is filed in fallâŻ2025, discovery would likely run through the first half ofâŻ2026. |
| Settlement negotiations | Many cases settle before trial, often after 12â18âŻmonths of discovery, but can be earlier if the defendant wishes to avoid protracted litigation. | A settlement could therefore be possible midâ2026 to earlyâŻ2027. |
| Trial (if no settlement) | Trials in the District ofâŻColumbia or other federal courts for largeâcap securities cases usually start 18â24âŻmonths after filing. | If the case goes to trial, a judgment might not be rendered until lateâŻ2027 or earlyâŻ2028. |
Bottomâline answer to your specific questions
| Question | Answer (based on the information in the release) |
|---|---|
| When is the lawsuit expected to be filed? | The press release does not specify an exact filing date. Given the âleadâplaintiffâ recruitment effort that began onâŻAugustâŻ8âŻ2025, the most plausible estimate is sometime between midâSeptember and earlyâŻOctoberâŻ2025. |
| When could a settlement or judgment occur? | No concrete date is provided. If the complaint is filed in fallâŻ2025, settlement discussions would likely begin in the second half ofâŻ2026 and a settlement could be reached any time from midâ2026 through earlyâŻ2027. If the case proceeds to trial, a judgment would probably not be issued until lateâŻ2027 or earlyâŻ2028. |
Key takeâaways
- The release is an invitation for investors to join as lead plaintiffs; it is not a âfiling noticeâ that includes a court docket date.
- Because the filing date is still pending, the only reliable timeline is the typical schedule for a securitiesâfraud class action of this size.
- Anyone interested in being a lead plaintiff should contact the law firm immediately (the release stresses âas soon as possibleâ) to ensure inclusion before the complaint is officially filed.
If you need an exact filing date once the firm finalizes its leadâplaintiff roster, the best source will be a followâup press release or the formal complaint docket entry in the United States District Court where the case is filed. Until then, the estimates above are the most accurate guidance available from the information currently disclosed.