If most of the things were within Joe's control, I

If most of the things were within Joe's control, I'd agree with you. But he can't control outside entities from making agreements and then breaking those agreements. Things like that happen in the world, and all Joe can do is react to them, not anticipate them.

I'm pretty sure he had signed agreements with those folks that screwed around with trading of restricted shares. And I'm pretty sure GNBT's lawyers are in contact with the various companies trying to work out a solution. You've seen these before - "Company X admits no wrongdoing but has generously agreed to pay $10 million to Company Y because at the heart of it, Company X is just a bunch of good guys."

But those type of agreements take time, and rarely do they compensate the folks that actually suffered (ie, the shareholders). But taking them to court takes even more time (years), costs the aggrieved company money (attorney's fees) and there is a chance their lawyers are better than our lawyers and we lose the case. So negotiations are better than nothing, but will still not be satisfactory to some.

As to some of the closings and their timing, read the safe harbor statements that are in most PRs. All future "promises" are just projections based on best info at the time. Attorneys take time, regulators take time, the SEC moves at its own pace, etc. I live in a world where delays happen (mine is the railroad industry, but we still use lawyers!). Based on what I've seen with GNBT, I think we'll still be fine in the next 3 to 6 months. But then again, I bought GNBT in 2006, so I can be VERY wrong in my analyses. LOL.