Initially scheduled for April 4, opening arguments in Rhode Island's so-called "lead paint" lawsuit have been postponed to Sept. 7, after companies named in the suit filed a motion objecting to the state's use of private law firms to help argue its position.

This is the second delay approved by Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein. The trial-which is a retrial of the public nuisance suit that ended in mistral in 2002-was initially pushed back from January to April. Judge Silverstein has to decide on the defendants' motion before the trial can go forward.