Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.law From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: law Mon, Mar 30 1992 Date: Mon, 30 Mar 92 05:43:33 EST Message-ID: 03-30 0000 DECISIONLINE: Business Law USA TODAY Update March 30, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network COURT TO HEAR THREE WASTE CASES: The Supreme Court hears cases from Michigan and New York Monday that will have far-reaching implications for the nation's waste management firms and disposal practices. Also, the court next month hears a case brought by Waste Management Inc. The cases involve the rights of states vs. the federal government and the issue of low-level nuclear waste disposal. (For more, see special Waste package below.) INTEL SUES OVER CHIP: Intel Corp., maker of the 486 model semiconductor chip, Friday filed suit to stop rival chipmaker Cyrix Corp. from introducing its smaller, faster and cheaper 486SLC chip. Cyrix is expected to announce Monday that it is shipping its new chip, which is half the size of Intel's 486 and will be priced the same as Intel's lower-powered 386. Cyrix says it expects many computer makers to change. BILL FOCUSES ON SAFETY: Rep. William Ford, D-Mich., and two Democratic senators - Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio - are taking aim at worker safety. They are sponsoring the Comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Reform Act, which would, among other things: Toughen training requirements for those using toxins; and toughen criminal penalties for willful violations. LESS TIME ASKED FOR: Michael Milken's lawyers asked a judge to reduce the jailed financier's sentence, citing Milken's cooperation with investigators and his agreement to testify against former colleague, Alan Rosenthal, in May. Milken was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to six securities-related felonies committed as head of the junk bond department at Drexel Burnham Lambert. MILKEN MUST DO THREE YEARS: Jailed financier Michael Milken, whose lawyers have asked to have his sentence reduced, entered prison last March and must serve at least three years before eligible for parole unless the judge agrees to reduce his sentence. Meanwhile, Milken works as the prison's tutor, helping inmates learn to read and study for high-school equivalency degrees. AT&T CONTRACT TALKS BEGIN: AT&T and the Communications Workers of American begin negotiations Monday, with the main issue being jobs. AT&T is cutting at least 6,000 jobs as it replaces operators with voice-recognizing computers. CWA represents 100,000 AT&T workers. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which also opens talks Monday, represents 27,000. Their contracts expire May 30. CWA WANTS AT&T TO STOP CUTS: Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr wants AT&T to stop "excessive" sub-contracting, plant-closings and replacing U.S. workers with low-wage foreigners. CWA says eliminating 133,000 AT&T workers in the past seven years has stretched the long-distance system "to the breaking point." AT&T says it must trim costs to compete with its rivals. SUIT FILED OVER MEETING DATES: The Great Lakes Shareholders' Committee filed a counterclaim Friday against Great Lakes Bancorp, its officers and its directors after learning that GLC has changed the record and annual meeting dates to March 31 and May 20 respectively. The counterclaim, brought in response to GLC's suit against some shareholders, seeks to restore the original dates of March 6 and April 22. CALLER ID APPROVED: Utility regulators in Ohio have ruled that Ohio Bell can offer Caller ID service. But regulators also said the firm must offer a blocking system for callers who don't want numbers revealed. A Bell spokesman argued that the blocking will defeat the benefit of the service. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON WASTE: MICHIGAN CASE BEFORE COURT: The Supreme Court Monday begins to hear a series of waste-related cases. A Michigan case before the court Monday tests a 1988 law restricting the ability of private landfills within the state to accept out-of-state solid waste. Municipalities are increasingly looking for disposal sites that are farther away, so the case has widespread implications. NEW YORK CHALLENGES FEDS: In a case before the Supreme Court Monday, New York challenges the power of the federal government to require it to develop a plan for disposal of the type of low-level radioactive waste produced by hospitals, research centers and nuclear power plants. Lawyer Charles Hahn, who sued over a waste site in Nebraska, says liability was forced on the states without permission. CWMI QUESTIONS STATE LAW: Chemical Waste Management Inc., which owns a hazardous waste landfill in Emelle, Ala., brings a case before the Supreme Court next month. The court will consider a challenge by the firm of a state law that imposes a $72 per ton fee on waste generated outside the state. More than 80% of the waste destined for Emelle is imported. (End of package.) Business Law Editor: Jason P. Smith. (919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM