Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.law,americast.usa-today.law From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: law Mon, Aug 24 1992 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 92 04:10:13 EDT Message-ID: 08-24 0000 DECISIONLINE: Business Law USA TODAY Update Aug. 24, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network EX-BOEING WORKER WINS SUIT: A Seattle jury has awarded $1.2 million to a former Boeing worker who lost the use of both hands because of repetitive strain injury. The jury ruled Boeing caused Janice Goodman emotional distress and discriminated against her by not accommodating her request for a transfer. Boeing was not found liable for her injuries. AWARD IS FOR DISCRIMINATION: The ruling against Boeing is thought to be one of the first damage awards from a jury in an RSI lawsuit. Such injuries usually are covered under workers' compensation laws, meaning victims can't sue employers. AGENCY GUILTY OF FALSE CLAIMS: A federal judge says a New York ad agency is liable for making false claims in a razor commercial. The judge earlier found its client guilty of the same conduct. Judge Kimba Wood's ruling, thought to be the first of its kind in advertising law, means Friedman Benjamin may have to pay Gillette $953,000. Friedman made an ad for Wilkinson Sword, saying Ultra Glide razor was superior. CAMPEAU MUST RETURN PROPERTY: Developer Robert Campeau will return 10 paintings, two cars and telephone equipment worth $1.1 million to Camdev, the real estate company he founded, this week. An Ontario court told Campeau to return the assets, which Camdev plans to sell. Campeau was removed from his company in August 1990 when debt troubles began to surface; he had earlier bought several department-store chains. HONEYWELL WINS SETTLEMENT: Honeywell Inc. said Friday it will get $124.1 million in settlements with seven camera makers it says infringed on its patented technology for autofocus lenses. Honeywell also said it will receive future royalties for camera sales through March 28, 1995, when applicable autofocus patents expire. The companies: Kodak, Konica, Kyocera, Canon, Matsushita, Nikon and Premier. SEC SUES ENERGY COMPANIES: The Securities and Exchange Commission Friday sued Sunaco Energy Inc. and Femethanol Inc. and the companies' principals, accusing them of violating federal securities laws. The SEC claimed Sunaco and Fermethanol collected $3 million from 240 investors by selling interests in limited partnerships allegedly involved in natural gas drilling, gas processing and and ethanol plant. COMPANIES MAKE FALSE PROMISES: The Securities and Exchange Commission Friday sued Sunaco Energy Inc. and Femethanol Inc., claiming the companies used telephone solicitation to find investors for limited partnerships. The SEC claims the companies and four of their executives violated federal securities laws by making untrue promises about returns on investments. BREACH OF CONTRACT RULED: Republic Waste Industries Inc. breached its 1990 merger agreement with G.I. Industries, the U.S. District Court for central California has ruled. G.I. Industries announced the ruling Friday. Republic had contended that its termination of the merger agreement was not a breach of the agreement. G.I. Industries is a holding company with one active subsidiary, Conejo Enterprises Inc. SHIP COMPANY NEAR CHAPTER 11: The American Ship Building Co. said Friday it might file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the end of September if the Navy doesn't pay $22 million needed to finish a construction contract. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it warned the Navy that it might not have enough capital to continue operating past the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. NAVISTAR RETIREES SUE: Retired employees of Navistar International Corp. filed suit Friday to prevent the truck and bus maker from cutting health-care benefits. The move would save Navistar $90 million annually. The suit was filed by a coalition of unions led by the United Auto Workers union. Navistar filed to reduce benefits for about 40,000 retired workers in late July. INSURANCE REMARKS CRITICIZED: Jan Shelver, a candidate for North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, Friday criticized remarks of Securities Commissioner Glenn Pomeroy regarding the sales of insurance policies of AIDS patients. A Waco, Texas-based firm has filed suit against Pomeroy. Shelver said Pomeroy's actions were "rash and ill-conceived" and that Pomeroy was not acting as an official of North Dakota. TV DEALER SHUT DOWN: The California Department of Consumer Affairs Friday permanently revoked the right to do business of Coddingtown TV of Santa Rosa for fraud and dishonest dealing. The department also revoked the license of owner Peter Borzenko. Both moves came after consumer complaints. In several instances, Borzenko took televisions into his shop for repair and then refused to return the sets. COLD CALLS TO BE RESTRICTED: The Federal Communications Commission is expected to establish rules next month that could severely restrict brokers from making "cold calls," or unsolicited calls, to potential clients. Cold calling likely will be regulated under a broader law. The law would limit computer-driven calls and automated phone solicitations. It also may help reduce high-pressure telephone pitches. Business Law Editor: Beth Mann. (919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 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