Lopez cited problems — but no wrongdoing — with the auction process. He said he did not want another auction and left it up to the trustee who oversaw the auction to determine the next steps.

I would be surprised if the auction was restarted. The “problems” cited seem to be that the judge just wanted the families to get more money and to minimize the chance of a lawsuit from the losers messing with them. Even though this is the bid that would get the families more money, I think everyone was surprised at how low the bids were. And the more complicated nature of the bid makes it more likely that a lawsuit could hold things up. If The Onion’s side can add a couple million more so that it’s the highest bid outright as well as getting the families a little more, I think the judge would approve it.