The threat of impending or active litigation will make Verizon reluctant to close a deal with Yahoo. It's new downside risk for Verizon that they have no desire

The threat of impending or active litigation will make Verizon reluctant to close a deal with Yahoo. It's new downside risk for Verizon that they have no desire to take on. Verizon may ask that Yahoo settle the lawsuit before closing the sale. So, it may be that the lawsuit was timed to put maximum pressure on Yahoo to settle, by creating risk of jeopardizing their sale.