COEUR d'ALENE - A 1st District Court judge in Kootenai County on Thursday set a trial date for next year in the state's lawsuit against the owners of the now-closed CoiNuts coin shop.

The Idaho Attorney General's Office filed a lawsuit in April alleging multiple and repeated violations of the Idaho Consumer Protection Act.

The trial is set for April 21, and is expected to last three days.

The Attorney General's office is seeking restitution for 18 customers who claimed the owners and operators, Kevin E. Mitchell and stepdaughter Sarah M. Mitchell, failed to deliver gold and silver paid for in advance.

The Mitchells declined to comment about the case after Thursday's status conference hearing.

CoiNuts was located at 296 W. Sunset Ave., just off U.S. 95. It closed last summer.

According to recent court filings, the attorney general's office is not willing to enter into mediation to resolve the case.

During the hearing, Kevin Mitchell said he is willing to engage in mediation, "If it would save the court's time and save the state some money."