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 Tue, Mar 31 1992 Date: Tue, 31 Mar 92 05:49:46 EST Message-ID: 03-31 0000 DECISIONLINE: Business Law USA TODAY Update March 31, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network COURT HEARS LANDFILL CASE: Attorneys representing Fort Gratiot Sanitary Landfill Inc. and the Michigan attorney general's office presented arguments before the Supreme Court Monday. The landfill firm is challenging Michigan's law banning out-of-state trash from private landfills. The law prohibits Fort Gratiot from accepting solid waste from the New York area. A ruling is expected in June. (For more, see special Court package below.) FIRMS SETTLE IN FRAUD CASE: Accounting firm Ernst & Young and law firm Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue agreed Monday to pay $63 million and $24 million respectively to settle charges in a $1.2 billion civil fraud suit involving Charles Keating. The firms were accused of helping deceive federal regulators about the health of Keating's American Continental while the firm was allegedly defrauding investors who bought ACC bonds. HILLS CONCERNED OVER CHIPS: U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills said Monday that Japan's failure to import more semiconductor chips is a serious concern. Hills says Japan imported only 14.4% of its chips the third quarter. Under a trade agreement, Japan is supposed to boost chip imports from all foreign suppliers to 20% by the end of 1992. Hills says the issue is being discussed by U.S. and Japanese officials. CABLE BILL DEBATED: One of the provisions in the cable bill now being considered by the House of Representatives would require communities to form committees that would gather complaints about cable service. The Senate passed earlier this year did not include such a provision. The House is expected to act quickly, but President Bush is expected to veto the legislation. INSURANCE DEAL ANNOUNCED: Virginia Insurance Commissioner Steven Foster announced Monday that Hartford Life Insurance Co. will assume the policies of troubled Fidelity Bankers Life Insurance Co. Under the plan, Hartford will assume all of Fidelity's annuities and insurance policies, according to Foster, the court-appointed receiver for Fidelity Bankers. He said policyholders will not lose money. BANKS PUSH CONGRESS: A coalition of powerful banking firms is urging Congress to allow them to open branches across state lines. The Coalition for Interstate Banking and Branching includes NationsBank, Bank of Boston, Mellon Bank and other unnamed institutions. Last year, Congress rejected a bill containing provisions allowing for interstate banking. IBM PROTESTS CONTRACT: IBM Federal Systems Co. Monday filed its second protest of the Treasury Multiuser Acquisition Contract claiming the Internal Revenue Service has again failed to justify awarding the contract to AT&T. AT&T's $1.4 billion bid won the contract. IBM said its proposal met all of the IRS' requirements at half the price. COALITION CONFLICT DENIED: There is some debate among people in the banking industry over whether the Coalition for Interstate Banking and Branching is acting outside the interests of the American Bankers Association. Coalition member NationsBank denies a conflict. ABA legislative analyst Virginia Dean says the group is an attempt "to corral people who are purist thinkers on interstate banking." HYUNDAI APPEALS JUDGMENT: Hyundai Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor America have appealed a Texas jury's $22.5 million judgment against the companies. The judgment came in a case involving negligence in the alleged defective design of a passive seal belt and for failure to give adequate warning of danger, reports Automotive News. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON COURT: OUT-OF STATE DUMPING BANNED: The central issue in a case argued before the Supreme Court Monday is whether St. Clair County and Michigan laws discriminate by prohibiting private landfill operator Fort Gratiot Sanitary Landfill Inc. from accepting up to 1,750 tons of solid waste daily from the New York area. The firm's lawyer, Harold B. Finn III argues that its is not hazardous waste and posses no threat. STATES SUPPORT MICHIGAN: Michigan has support in its case banning out-of-state garbage. Twenty-one other states have filed papers with the court supporting Michigan's and St. Clair County's position. Thomas L. Casey, assistant solicitor general for Michigan, said the 1988 law does not forbid counties from accepting out-of-state waste but requires them to show they have adequate landfills for the next 20 years. COURT ASKS FOR OPINION: In a separate case Monday, the Supreme Court asked for the Bush administration's view in a Texas AIDS case. The court wants an opinion on whether AIDS sufferers may use a federal law to sue employers who cut health-care coverage for the disease. (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