Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.law From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: law Tue, Aug 11 1992 Date: Tue, 11 Aug 92 04:32:26 EDT Message-ID: 08-11 0000 DECISIONLINE: Business Law USA TODAY Update Aug. 11, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network ASBESTOS RULING MADE: Four companies that made or distributed asbestos products must pay punitive damages up to 2 1:2 times their share of actual damages, Baltimore jurors ruled Monday in the nation's largest consolidation of asbestos personal-injury cases. The decision was the fourth and final stage of a closely watched five-month trial. TWA CONSIDERS EXTENSION: TWA is seeking a 90-day extension from its Aug. 30 deadline to file a plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection. TWA is discussing giving creditors a 55% stake and workers 45%. Carl Icahn would step down as chairman, giving up his 90% stake. EQUIFAX CORRECTS QUESTIONS: In an agreement announced Friday with the New York State attorney general's office, credit-reporting company Equifax will eliminate many questions it asks of personal references listed by job seekers on application forms. Disabilities, history of drug use and records of arrests will no longer be asked for background checks. Equifax was accused of violating state and city human-laws. CWA, PHONE CO. MAKE AGREEMENT: The Communications Workers of America reached agreement Monday on a contract with a regional telephone company and its subsidiaries, averting a five-state strike. The agreement with the Ameritech Corp. includes wage increases of 11.5% over three years. A CWA spokesman said the pact likely will be ratified by the 35,000 workers in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. WALKOUT THREATENING: A walkout still loomed in six East Coast states and the District of Columbia, where Communications Workers of America talks with Bell Atlantic were recessed until Tuesday. Negotiators for the CWA and Pacific Telesis continued talks in California. Southwestern Bell and BellSouth reached tentative agreements over the weekend. POLICE WANT RADAR GUNS TESTED: Police officers told Congress Monday they fear radar guns used to catch speeders may cause cancer and they want federal health agencies to determine if the link exists. The Senate Environmental Affairs Subcommittee is pushing the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to study radar guns and cancer. STEELMAKERS EARN VICTORY: U.S. steelmakers won a round Monday in their effort to prove that foreign competitors have an unfair advantage and are dumping steel products in the U.S. at below-market costs. The International Trade Commission found that in most of the 84 unfair trade complaints filed by steelmakers there is evidence that foreign steelmakers may have caused damage to the domestic U.S. industry. CANADA DISCOURAGED BY VOTE: A spokesman for Canada's largest steelmaker said the International Trade Commission vote was discouraging but stressed it is still early in the game. The Commerce Department has indicated that because of the large number of cases and complexity of the cases it won't decide until Nov. 27 on the unfair subsidies complaints and until Jan. 26 on the anti-dumping complaints. UMW, BCOA TO MEET: The nation's coal miners will begin bargaining for a new national contract after Labor Day (Sept. 7) when the United Mine Workers of America sits down with leaders of the Bituminous Coal Operators' Association. The negotiations, which will be in Washington, D.C., will affect more than 210,000 active and retired coal miners. OPERATION EQUINE BEGINS: Following in the wake of "Operation Goldpill" a month ago, the Federal Bureau of Investigation continued its attack on health-care fraud and abuse with Monday's announcement of "Operation Equine." This international investigation focuses on the use of black market anabolic steroids. More than 40 felony distribution indictments were unsealed Monday, and arrests are under way. CIRCLE K AUCTIONED OFF: The U.S. Bankruptcy Court has ended the bankruptcy auction process of the Circle K Corp. and declared CK Acquisitions the winner in its bid of $402.5 million. It is an increase of $27.5 million over the previous price of $375 million resulting from negotiations among the company, CK Acquisitions and three creditor groups. Circle K is emerging from Chapter 11 protection. KESSLER WANTS FDA TO CHARGE: The Food and Drug Administration should charge companies a fee to speed the approval process for new products, FDA Commissioner David Kessler said Monday. Kessler told the House's Energy and Commerce health subcommittee that charging companies a modest fee is helpful, but not as good as President Bush's wider proposal, encompassing all users, including medical device manufacturers. ANHEUSER BUSCH RESTRAINED: A federal judge in New York granted Coors Brewing Co. a temporary restraining order Monday barring rival Anheuser Busch Co. Inc. from airing a controversial commercial for its Natural Light beer, Bloomberg Business News reports. Coors Brewing, seeking a permanent injunction and damages of as much as $30 million, claims A-B disparages the quality of the water used in Coors Light beer. BRITISH AIRWAYS A U.S. THREAT: United Airlines Chairman Stephen Wolf called British Airways' proposed $750 million investment in USAir Monday a dire threat to other carriers in the USA unless they get greater access to the British market. In a letter to employees, Wolf said the USAir deal would effectively give British Airways control of a U.S. carrier without changing Britain's aviation policies. CRAZY EDDIE INDICTED: Eddie Antar, co-founder of now-defunct Crazy Eddie Inc., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering and conspiracy. He was one of the largest electronic retailers in the New York area. Antar, two brothers and a cousin were charged with falsifying the company's books to boost the stock price. If convicted, Antar could face 100 years in prison and fines up to $160 million. Business Law Editor: Kate Coughlin. (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