Now, 25 years of legal fits and starts later, it appears that the case may be over, said Elizabeth Fink, the principal lawyer for the inmates.

Mr. North's principal lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, did not return a telephone call this evening for comment on the matter.

The general's principal lawyer, Michael Caplan, said only that it was "a very important development in the case at this stage."

Theodore W. Kheel, the principal lawyer advising the unions, called the offer "the last clear chance for a settlement."

When one of the principal lawyers bringing the suit, George LaRoche, made a popular point, there was applause from the spectators.

Elizabeth Fink, the principal lawyer for Mr. Smith and the other plaintiffs, has spent her entire career on the case.

Robert S. Bennett, Mr. Clinton's principal lawyer, had estimated the costs to be no more than $33,000.

He was also the principal lawyer employed by the Manchester Ship Canal company.

Instead, their principal Washington-based lawyer, Richard Hibey, acted as a spokesman.

He called his principal lawyer to check on the current state of things, and the lawyer cautioned him to be patient.