PITTSBURGH — A food distribution company that sued Friedman's for breach of contract believed that court-ordered mediation had resolved the case in October, but more legal maneuvering was required after the owner of the 117-year-old Butler grocer neglected to sign the settlement documents.

While attorneys for neither Harold Friedman Inc. nor Merchants Distributors Inc. have returned calls from the Butler Eagle for several months regarding the case, online court documents demonstrate the extended legal process that has been carried out for more than a year in federal court.

According to the court proceedings, MDI attorneys and lawyers for HFI owner Carole Bitter recently agreed on a settlement.

“But after months of delays and excuses, HFI now refuses to sign a formal settlement agreement,” said MDI attorneys in a recent court document. “Moreover, in January 2019, HFI began trying to change the terms of the parties' original deal, asserting new rights contrary to the parties' original agreement.”

This is an excerpt — pick up Thursday's Butler Eagle or subscribed to the Eagle online.