BlackRock defended its boards of trustees. A BlackRock spokesman wrote via email that Global Allocation is priced competitively, adding, "The suit is without merit and we intend to vigorously defend against the action." A judge has asked both sides for reports on the discovery process by Jan. 19. A suit in federal court in Seattle compares Pimco's well-known $78 billion Total Return fund (PTTRX.O) with the $2.3 billion Harbor Bond Fund, (HABDX.O) a similar fund Pimco subadvises. The plaintiff cited how Pimco charged holders of Class A shares of Total Return 0.85 percent of fund assets, while investors were charged just 0.53 percent of fund assets to own a comparable Harbor Bond Fund share class. The plaintiff claimed Pimco trustees "have been subverted by defendants and no longer serve in their 'watchdog' role" and cited the trustees' generous pay.