In another important procedural victory for the City of Falls Church in its court battle with the Fairfax Water Authority, the Fairfax Circuit Court Friday ruled to stay the trial pending the outcome of arguments before a three-judge panel convened for October by the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.

The stay was with the exception of one count of Fairfax Water’s complaint against the City of Falls Church, pertaining to the City’s taking a “return on investment” from its system. That count will be heard in trial beginning Sept. 14.