There was no talk of a settlement as attorneys for Wal-Mart and the city met in court today to discuss the upcoming trial over Wal-Mart’s plans to build a store at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive.

Instead, attorneys for both sides were making final preparations for the trial, which is set to begin April 16 before Douglas County District Judge Michael Malone.

There’s been some question about whether the two sides would try to settle the case, now that the make-up of the Lawrence City Commission is set to change considerably since the last time the commission denied a plan for the Wal-Mart store in October. On Tuesday, Commissioner David Schauner failed to win re-election to the commission, and Commissioner Mike Rundle chose not to seek re-election. That leaves Commissioner Boog Highberger as the only member of the commission that voted against the Wal-Mart plan.

Bill Newsome, a member of the development company that owns the property at the northwest corner of the intersection, has said his group has no plans to settle the lawsuit. Wal-Mart officials, however, have made no comment – including after today’s hearing – on whether they have an interest in opening talks with the city.

Wal-Mart is seeking a ruling from the court that would allow it to build a 132,100-square-foot store on the site.

For more on the hearing, see tomorrow’s Journal-World.