Victims and survivors of the Aurora theater shooting will have to wait almost a year before they can walk into a different courtroom and try to convince a new jury that the theater’s owner should be held liable for the attack.

The 15-week long trial of James Holmes concluded on Friday after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision and delivered a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. But the conclusion of the trial acts as a major stepping stone for victims and survivors to move forward with civil lawsuits filed about thee years ago.

In April, a federal judge set a date for a three-week trial in July 2016 for several civil suits filed by survivors of the shooting and relatives of those killed during the attack. The various lawsuits were merged into one case that includes a total of 41 plaintiffs.

The start of the trial was delayed at the request of the victims’ attorneys and the attorneys for the theater’s owner. They argued a gag order prohibiting law enforcement from discussing the shooting prevented lawyers from gathering evidence in the case.

That gag order was lifted by Judge Carlos Samour Jr. after the jury’s final verdict was read on Friday.

The lawsuit alleges that Cinemark, which owns the Century Aurora 16, should have done more to protect moviegoers at the theater where Holmes killed 12 people and wounded 70 others on July 20, 2012.

A different group of lawsuits filed against the theater in state court is set for trial in May 2016. That trial is also expected to last three weeks.

Chantel Blunk, whose husband, Jonathan Blunk, was killed in the attack, also filed lawsuits in federal court against Dr. Lynne Fenton, a University of Colorado psychiatrist who treated Holmes in the spring of 2012. The suit also names CU.

Holmes was enrolled in a competitive neuroscience program at CU when he sought treatment from Fenton. The lawsuit claims Fenton should have placed Holmes on a psychiatric hold prior to the attack.

Fenton testified during the trial that Holmes confessed thoughts of homicide to her, but he never discussed specific plans. She ultimately decided that he did not meet the criteria for a 72-hour hold.

Blunk’s lawsuit was put on pause before the criminal trial started and will likely resume following its conclusion.

Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jsteffendp