Timeline of Times/P-I Joint Operating Agreement

1981

Jan. 13: The Seattle Times Co. and Hearst Corp., owner of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, announce an agreement in principle to form a joint-operating agreement under the federal Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970.

1983

May 23: The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer begin operating under the JOA.

1999

Feb. 2: The Seattle Times Co. announces it and Hearst. have revised the 1983 JOA. Among other things, the agreement allows The Times to move from afternoon to morning publication and hands Hearst a larger share of the two paper's pooled advertising and circulation revenue.

2000

March 6: The Times begins publishing in the morning.

2003

April 28: Hearst files suit in King County Superior Court to block The Seattle Times Co. from taking actions that could close the P-I or end the JOA.

April 29: The Seattle Times Co. formally notifies Hearst that The Times had lost money under the JOA in 2000, 2001 and 2002. That opens the way for The Times to invoke an escape clause in the JOA that allows either party to move to close one paper or terminate the JOA within 18 months. Hearst's suit is attempting to prevent that.

May 9: Superior Court Judge Greg Canova denies a Hearst motion to stop the 18-month clock.

June 6: The U.S. Department of Justice discloses it is investigating the Seattle JOA and issues surrounding it.

July 1: An ad hoc citizens group calling itself the Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town announces it will attempt to intervene in the case. It has support from the local newspaper workers union.

July 14: Canova grants the Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town intervenor status in the case.

July 16: Hearst tells Canova it is putting the P-I up for sale if court proceedings aren't speeded up.

Sept. 12: Canova hears arguments on one part of Hearst's suit: that The Times' claimed losses for 2000 and 2001 resulted from an extraordinary event -- a newspaper strike -- and should be disallowed.

Sept. 25: Canova rules the loss claims are invalid under the JOA, which means the company cannot invoke the escape clause.

Oct. 3: Hearst tells P-I staff members that the paper is no longer for sale.

Oct. 7: Times appeals Canova's decision to the state Court of Appeals.

Oct. 29: Court of Appeals agrees to hear the case on an expedited basis. This comes after lawyers from both parties quietly agreed earlier in the month to freeze the 18-month clock.

2004

Feb. 4: Times officials say the newspaper lost money under the JOA in 2003 -- the fourth consecutive year of losses.

March 22: Three-judge Appeals Court panel rules in favor of The Times, sending the case back to the lower court with orders to reverse Canova's September decision.

April 19: Hearst appeals ruling to the State Supreme Court.

2005

May 13: Justice Department says it is ending a two-year investigation of the JOA. In its statement, DOJ said it didn't find enough evidence to pursue antitrust action against The Times Co.

June 30: The State Supreme Court unanimously upholds the Appeals Court, allowing The Times Co. to claim financial losses in 2000 and 2001.

Sept. 29: The Times Co. notifies Hearst that The Times recorded financial losses in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

2006

March 29: The Times Co. issues Hearst another loss notice, this one for 2003, 2004 and 2005.

March 30: The Times Co. and Hearst say they have agreed to settle the dispute through binding arbitration, with a non-appealable decision to be made by May 31, 2007.

May 6: The local newspaper union votes to cut off financial support for the Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town. The committee vows to press on.

2007

Feb. 20: The Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town files a motion asking Judge Canova to rule parts of the 1999 JOA revision to be unconstitutional.

March 7: Canova rejects a committee attempt to have a ruling on its motion before the arbitrator's decision.

April 6: The Times Co. and Hearst say the arbitration hearing, set to begin April 9, has been postponed a week. That means a decision would also be delayed a week, to June 7.

April 16:: The Times Co. and Hearst announce settlement.