/raid1/www/Hosts/bankrupt/CAR_Public/040211.mbx            C L A S S   A C T I O N   R E P O R T E R
  
          Wednesday, February 11, 2004, Vol. 6, No. 29

                        Headlines                            

BIG LOTS: Overtime Pay Pact Includes S. Bernardino, CA Managers
BRIDGESTONE/ FIRESTONE: CBS Report Cited To Support Suit Claims
CHINA INVESTMENT: CA Court Enters Judgment in Prime Bank Case
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG: Protesters Score Consumer Bias, Picket Booth
DAIMLERCHRYSLER: Recalls 3,200 Minivans Due To Seat-Belt Defect

ENRON CORPORATION: TX Judge Refuses Subpoena of Examiner's Docs
FARMERS INSURANCE: Faces CA Fraud Suit For Selling Damaged Car
FILA USA: SEC Launches Suit For Financial Fraud in N.D. Alabama
FRANKLIN RESOURCES: Shareholders Commence Securities Suit in NV
GENERAL MOTORS: Recalls 636,000 SUVs For Electronics Check

GREYHOUND BUS: 17 Injured As Bus Crashes Into Nebraska Ditch
HOME DEPOT: MD Resident Files Suit Over Payment Allocation Issue
LANTRONIX INC.: CA Court Allows Filing of Consolidated Lawsuit
LANTRONIX INC.: Discovery Proceeds in Derivative Lawsuit in CA
MARTHA STEWART: Defense Team Set To Cross-Examine Star Witness

MEXICAN BRACEROS: 200 Ex-Workers Stage Protest For Unpaid Wages
MICROSOFT CORPORATION: Working For Settlement of Antitrust Suits
MONTANA: Judge Approves Pact In 7-Yr.-Old Disability Rights Suit  
MUTUAL FUNDS FIRMS: Congress Passes Bill Set To Reform Industry
MYLAN LABORATORIES: Asks MA Court To Dismiss Claims in AWP Suit

NEVIS CAPITAL: SEC Settles Admin. Cease-and-Desist Proceedings
ONEOK INC: Natural-Gas Traders Commence Gas Pricing Lawsuit  
STARCASH: SEC Settles Cease-and-Desist Proceedings V. 2 Agents
SUPERBOWL: TN Woman Withdraws Lawsuit Over Janet Jackson's Stunt
THIMEROSAL LITIGATION: Health Experts To Re-Examine Autism Links   

TURKCELL: Agrees To Settle Securities Fraud Suit For $19.2M
WORLD AIRWAYS: Faces DOT Probe Over Nigeria Flights Complaint


                Meetings, Conferences & Seminars


* Scheduled Events for Class Action Professionals
* Online Teleconferences

                New Securities Fraud Cases

ADECCO SA: Deadline To File Lead Plaintiff Motion Set March 16
AGCO CORPORATION: Brian Felgoise Launches Securities Suit in IL
AGCO CORPORATION: Charles Piven Files Securities Suit in N.D. IL
DATATEC SYSTEMS: Shalov Stone Commences Securities Lawsuit in NJ
DATATEC SYSTEMS: Brian Felgoise Launches Securities Suit in NJ

REDBACK NETWORKS: Deadline To File For Lead Plaintiff Is Feb. 20
WINN-DIXIE STORES: Paskowitz & Associates Files Suit in M.D. FL
WINN-DIXIE STORES: Milberg Weiss Launches Securities Suit in FL


                        *********


BIG LOTS: Overtime Pay Pact Includes S. Bernardino, CA Managers
---------------------------------------------------------------
The $10 million settlement proposed by discount retailer Big
Lots, Inc. will include the two lead plaintiffs from San
Bernadino, California, the Knight-Ridder / Tribune Business News
reports.

The suit alleged the Company illegally avoided paying overtime
to employees by classifying them as managers and assistant
managers exempt from overtime when they had actually performed
tasks that were non-managerial in nature.

The settlement originated from claims made by Jim Cozart and
Joyce Bonaime, who worked at stores in San Bernardino, their
attorney, John Quisenberry of Los Angeles, told the Tribune
Business News.  Their claims were later combined with two other
primary claimants who, as a group of four, represented others in
the class-action lawsuit.  It was not immediately clear how much
Mr. Cozart and Mr. Bonaime will receive from the settlement, and
they could not be reached to comment.

Big Lots, based in Columbus, Ohio, admitted no wrongdoing in
settling the claims.  "We don't necessarily agree that we have
violated the California code," Charles Haubiel, the company's
vice-president and general counsel told the Tribune Business
News.  "The state of California has adopted, frankly, a labor
code that is far different than most of the other states."

The workers should not have been classified as managers when
more than 50 percent of their time spent working consisted of
such tasks as unloading trucks and stacking shelves, Mr.
Quisenberry told the Business News.  The workers were not
required to prove that the company had purposefully avoided
paying the extra wages.  "This isn't welfare or a hand-out," he
added. "These people worked overtime, and they didn't get paid."

Mr. Quisenberry said Big Lots should be applauded for paying a
fair settlement, but he said there also are lessons for other
employers.  "It is a hard economy in many ways, and there is a
lot of pressure on the bottom line," he said. "But that is not
an excuse to violate the labors laws and squeeze out of your
workers some overtime pay."


BRIDGESTONE/ FIRESTONE: CBS Report Cited To Support Suit Claims
---------------------------------------------------------------

Referencing a news report which aired on the "CBS Evening News"
on Friday evening, Attorney Joseph L. Lisoni reiterated that
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.'s Steeltex tire series is defective
in both design and manufacturing and that the tire manufacturer
is involved in a "cover-up" of these defects while also
illegally destroying defective tires in violation of a court
order.

Lisoni's Pasadena, CA-based law firm, Lisoni & Lisoni, filed a
national class action lawsuit in August 2002 on behalf of
consumers who contend that the Firestone Steeltex R4S, R4SII and
A/T tires are unsafe due to defective design and manufacturing.
The lawsuit alleges that these defects have led to massive tread
separations, causing numerous vehicle accidents resulting in
deaths and injuries.

In its special report aired Friday, the "CBS Evening News"
reported that "questions are being raised" about the Steeltex
tires and that it appears that Firestone is "trying to cover up
a problem." The news report alluded to hundreds of letters that
the tire manufacturer had sent out to customers saying that the
allegedly defective tires they sent in "would be returned or
destroyed," even though the latter would be a violation of an
existing court order.

The news report cited an instance in which Firestone had claimed
there were no defects in a set of tires sent in by a customer.
CBS had Alan Hogan, an outside expert, analyze the tires. He
reported that the damaged tires were defective and there were
even cracks in the ones that hadn't malfunctioned yet,
concluding "they were a recipe for disaster."

Lisoni noted that it is significant that CBS sought Hogan's
analysis as he is a former employee of Bridgestone/Firestone who
was intimately involved with the manufacture of Firestone's ATX,
ATXII and Wilderness AT tires. Hogan had previously testified
before a federal grand jury investigating 270 deaths attributed
to tread separations of the recalled Wilderness tires.

Commenting on the report, Lisoni remarked: "This only validates
what we have found to be true through our own investigations
since we filed the class action lawsuit 18 months ago. It is
unconscionable that Bridgestone/Firestone not only refuses to
acknowledge that these tires are defective and recalls them, but
it is clearly knee-deep in a program to deny that any problems
exist and to cover up evidence of such defects by destroying
tires."

Lisoni emphasized that it was becoming increasingly clear why
Bridgestone, Inc., the co-defendant in the class action lawsuit,
recently requested -- and was granted on January 29 -- a
temporary stay from litigation in the lawsuit. "Considering that
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (aka
Bridgestone/Firestone) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Japanese tire manufacturer, that speaks volumes as to how it
feels about this situation," he added.

As a result of the CBS news report, Lisoni said a motion was
being prepared to submit to the California Superior Court
requesting it reconsider its ruling on January 23 denying the
plaintiffs' motion for sanctions against Bridgestone/Firestone
for intentional spoliation of evidence. The motion will also
request that a trial be scheduled as quickly as possible on
damages.

Lisoni reported that the next major court action for the class
action lawsuit will take place on February 25, 2004, when a
hearing will be held in the Riverside Branch of the California
Superior Court in Indio, CA, on a plaintiffs' motion to have the
lawsuit classified as a national class action.

"It is important that Bridgestone/Firestone understand that this
lawsuit will not go away, not as long as there are over 30
million Steeltex tires on the road whose defects have already
proven to be a threat to the health and safety of the American
public," Lisoni stressed. He added that more reports of tire
failures from all over the country are coming into the lawsuit's
website, www.firestonesteeltexclassaction.com on a daily basis.


CHINA INVESTMENT: CA Court Enters Judgment in Prime Bank Case
-------------------------------------------------------------
The United States District Court for the Central District of
California entered final judgments against both defendants in
the Commission's "prime bank" case arising from the promotion of
a fraudulent high-yield investment program to investors
throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada.  

The defendants are William R. Kerr and the China Investment
Group, Ltd., an entity Mr. Kerr controlled.  Without admitting
or denying the allegations of the Commission's complaint, the
defendants consented to the entry of final judgments that
permanently enjoin them from violating the antifraud, securities
registration, and broker-dealer registration provisions of the
federal securities laws.

The defendants' disgorgement obligations were waived, and no
civil penalties were imposed against them, based on their
financial conditions and, in the case of Mr. Kerr, based also on
recognition of his $10,757,775 restitution order in a parallel
criminal case.  In related proceedings, the Commission issued an
administrative order on February 6, 2004, to which Mr. Kerr
consented, which bars him from associating with any broker or
dealer in the future.

In its complaint in federal court, which it filed on December
19, 2002, the Commission alleged that Mr. Kerr and his company
induced more than sixty investors throughout the U.S., as well
as in Canada, to invest over $12 million in his fraudulent
investment program, which Mr. Kerr falsely promised would yield
exorbitant returns within a matter of weeks or months.   

The complaint further alleged that, in furtherance of this
scheme, Mr. Kerr posed as a wealthy, politically connected
businessman and made numerous false and materially misleading
representations to his investor victims and to various
intermediaries whom he knew would echo his false claims to other
investor victims.  These false and materially misleading
representations, according to the complaint, included claims:

     (1) that Mr. Kerr had control of a $200 million trust;

     (2) that Mr. Kerr could use the trust as leverage to trade
         in medium term bank notes (MTNs);

     (3) that this MTN trading would yield profits of more than
         13,000% of the amount invested;

     (4) that Mr. Kerr's company, CIG, conducted the MTN
         trading;

     (5) that the World Bank supported Kerr's trading program;  
         and
     
     (6) that Mr. Kerr's investment program was safe and was
         backed by his personal guarantee.  

Further, the complaint alleged that, instead of investing his
victims' funds as he had represented, Mr. Kerr misappropriated
it, and failed to return either profits or principal to his
investor victims.

The court's final judgments permanently enjoin both of the
defendants from violating Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933, Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act), and Exchange Act
Rule 10b-5.
     

DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG: Protesters Score Consumer Bias, Picket Booth
----------------------------------------------------------------
DaimlerChrysler AG's booth at the Chicago Auto Show faced about
30 protesters alleging discrimination against blacks on
Saturday, the Chicago Sun Times reports.

Protesters spent an hour at the McCormick Place event urging
visitors to join a nationwide boycott of Chrysler initiated by
African-American clergy last year.  "Chrysler's own top managers
have admitted African Americans are routinely discriminated
against and referred to with racial slurs," Bishop Larry Trotter
told the Sun Times.

In recently unsealed sworn statements in a federal lawsuit by a
former dealer, Chrysler workers revealed that a former regional
financing manager used racial slurs against African Americans
and that managers routinely asked the race of applicants before
financing cars.

Chrysler attorney Donald Hubert said Saturday the company has
sought to meet with the group, which is involved in a separate
class action that claims Chrysler systematically denied loans to
African Americans, manipulated credit scores and redlined loans
for dealerships serving African-American areas.  
"DaimlerChrysler does not tolerate discrimination," he told the
Sun Times.


DAIMLERCHRYSLER: Recalls 3,200 Minivans Due To Seat-Belt Defect
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler AG said it will recall about
3,200 of its 2005 model year Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge
Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans because the front right
seat belt may not have been assembled properly, posing an
increased risk of injury in a crash.

Chrysler discovered the faulty seat belts during a routine
investigation, and has not received any complaints of a problem,
said spokeswoman Angela Spencer Ford. The affected minivans do
not have the new "Stow and Go" fold-flat seats in the second and
third rows.


ENRON CORPORATION: TX Judge Refuses Subpoena of Examiner's Docs
---------------------------------------------------------------
United States District Judge Vanessa Gilmore refused to grant
lawyer Barry Pollack's subpoena seeking to obtain documents from
controversial bankruptcy examiner Neal Batson, the Houston
Chronicle reports.

Mr. Pollack is defending Michael Krautz, the former senior
accounting director of Enron Broadband Services, who faces
charges of fraud, conspiracy, and making a false statement to
federal authorities.  He allegedly schemed to generate $111
million in false earnings.  Mr. Krautz has pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Pollack wanted to obtain documents from Mr. Batson, arguing
that the government, through prosecutors and the Securities and
Exchange Commission, has access to his materials and the
criminal defendants should too.  He said that the documents are
anything but confidential since Batson could show them to Enron
itself, the Enron creditors committee, any witness and even the
public should he chose to do so, the Chronicle reports.

Mr. Batson spent US$100 million gathering 266 transcripts of
sworn testimony and 40 million pieces of paper, but he now wants
the documents destroyed.  He has petitioned a bankruptcy judge
for immunity from any and all subpoenas, permission to shred the
documents he has collected and complete protection from any
liability.  Mr. Batson's lawyer James Grant told the Chronicle
all of Batson's documentation should be covered by attorney-
client privilege and should have blanket immunity from
subpoenas.

Lawyers in the gigantic proposed class actions filed on behalf
of Enron shareholders and employees also want to be able to save
time, money and effort by getting at the documentation
supporting Mr. Batson's 4,000 pages of reports outlining the
tangled financial partnerships Enron used to mask its dwindling
fiscal health, the Chronicle states.

"He should not be the public library for all the Enron documents
he's collected," Judge Gilmore told Mr. Pollack, who represents
ex-Enron accounting executive Michael Krautz.  She stated that
Mr. Batson's role was quasi-judicial in that he investigated on
behalf of the bankruptcy court.

She said the evidence he gathered can be obtained through the
witnesses and sources that spoke to or supplied Batson with
documents.  Judge Gilmore said the examiner's work should not be
available for fishing expeditions by criminal defense lawyers,
the Chronicle states.

Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Gonzalez has yet to rule on Batson's
request that his documents be destroyed and he be protected from
further involvement.  Judge Gonzalez in New York has already
granted a request from financial institutions that transcripts
of their employee interviews with Batson be kept under wraps.


FARMERS INSURANCE: Faces CA Fraud Suit For Selling Damaged Car
--------------------------------------------------------------
Farmers Insurance faces a lawsuit filed in the Orange County
Superior Court in California, charging it with selling a car
destined for the junkyard to an unsuspecting buyer, the Knight-
Ridder / Tribune Business News reports.

Denny Akiyama of Newport Beach and Scott Do of Huntington Beach
filed the suit, which underscores a little known form of auto
fraud.  The suit accuses the nation's third-largest auto and
home insurer of fraud and breach of contract.  It alleges that
the insurer knowingly arranged for affiliated body shops to
repair Akiyama's totaled 2000 Audi S4 Quattro and then sell it
to Do without disclosing the damage to the vehicle.

"We're alleging that Farmer's is engaging in a pattern of fraud
that's akin to money laundering, really," Russell Kerr, a
Fountain Valley attorney who filed the case, told the Tribune
Business News.  "As part of that, we're going to ask the jury to
award punitive damages."

The case, scheduled to go to trial Monday, also names Top Finish
Collision Centers in Santa Ana and Jim and Jack's Auto Body Shop
in El Segundo, seeks damages for Mr. Akiyama and Mr. Do and an
order for Farmers to locate other consumers who may have
purchased vehicles under similar circumstances.

Mr. Kerr originally sought class action status for the case, but
a judge ruled there were not enough plaintiffs involved.  Still,
consumer attorneys say Mr. Do's experience is just one example
of how insurance companies employ various methods to avoid
losing money on wrecked cars.

"We are not going to comment at this time," said Mary Flynn, a
spokeswoman for Farmers Insurance, the Tribune Business News
reports.

Mr. Kerr said he plans to file at least nine additional lawsuits
against Farmers with similar allegations, including one case in
which a Huntington Beach grandmother ended up with a salvaged
car in which she drove her grandchildren.


FILA USA: SEC Launches Suit For Financial Fraud in N.D. Alabama
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint on
February 4 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Alabama against Jonathan G. Epstein, former
President and Chief Executive Officer of Fila U.S.A., an outside
vendor of Just for Feet, Inc. (JFFI) in Birmingham, Alabama.
     
The complaint alleges that Mr. Epstein assisted in perpetrating
a financial reporting fraud involving the financial statements
of JFFI, a former national retailer of athletic and outdoor
footwear.  Mr. Epstein signed an audit confirmation letter
stating falsely that Fila owed JFFI $1.38 million in advertising
"co-op receivables" which JFFI had improperly recorded.   

This overstatement of income was reflected on JFFI's financial
statements included in its Form 10-K filed for fiscal year 1998,
Forms 10-Q filed for the first and second quarters of fiscal
1999, and in its registration statements on Forms S-8 and S-4
filed in May and June of 1999, respectively.
     
The complaint seeks a permanent injunction enjoining Mr. Epstein
from further violations or aiding and abetting violations of
Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Sections 10(b) and
13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5,
12b-20, 13a-1 and 13a-13 thereunder.  The complaint further
seeks the imposition of civil monetary penalties against Mr.
Epstein.   

The suit is styled "SEC v. Jonathan G. Epstein, Civil Action No.
2:04-CV-0218 NDAL."


FRANKLIN RESOURCES: Shareholders Commence Securities Suit in NV
---------------------------------------------------------------
Franklin Resources, Inc. faces a securities class action filed
in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
on behalf of those who bought shares of any of Franklin's mutual
funds between February 6, 1999, and February 4, 2004, over its
mutual fund trading practices, Dow Jones Business News reports.

The suit, filed by prominent law firm Milberg Weiss Bershad
Hynes & Lerach LLP, The suit alleges the company improperly
allowed certain favored customers to "time" its mutual funds in
return for extra fees.  It also alleges that the funds'
prospectuses, which the law firm said didn't disclose such
activity, falsely represented that the funds actively police
against timing and assess charges for premature redemptions.
Timing, or rapid in-and-out trading, lets favored investors skim
profits from long-term shareholders.

Milberg Weiss noted the latest suit is related to another class
action, Kaplan et al. v. Security Brokerage Inc. and Daniel G.
Calugar, filed in the District of Nevada on December 31, Dow
Jones reports.

Last week, Massachusetts regulators charged the mutual-fund
company with civil fraud, alleging it let a Daniel G. Calugar,
president of Security Brokerage Inc., Las Vegas, make $45
million worth of improper mutual fund trades in exchange for his
$10 million investment in a Franklin hedge fund.  Mr. Calugar
and his company were also named as defendants in Milberg's
latest class-action suit, along with Williams Post and DCIP L.P.

On Monday, the Securities and Exchange Commission said it plans
to recommend charges against Franklin Resources and two unnamed
executives.  Franklin Resources is also being investigated by
Florida, California and New York state prosecutors.

Franklin representatives weren't immediately available to
comment Monday, Dow Jones states.


GENERAL MOTORS: Recalls 636,000 SUVs For Electronics Check
----------------------------------------------------------
General Motors Corporation will recall about 636,0000 mid-size
sport utility vehicles, after two reports of crashes related to
electronics that could short-circuit when water leaks into a
wiper module reached the Company, Reuters reports.  No one was
injured in the crashes.

The recall, the Company's second major recall in four days,
includes certain model year 2002 and 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
and TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Envoy XL, and Oldsmobile
Bravada SUV models as well as some Isuzu Motors Ltd.  Ascenders,
which GM builds, GM said in a statement. Of the total, about
580,000 are in the United States and some 31,000 are in Canada.

GM said dealers will patch a vent hole in the windshield wiper
module and inspect a circuit board and electrical connector in
the area for water intrusion and corrosion.  GM will notify
owners beginning in the third quarter this year, and dealers
will fix the vehicles at no charge, Reuters states.

GM spokesman Jim Schell told Reuters the reason for the delay is
the automaker has to test the materials and adhesives used to
fix the problem.  Owners should have their vehicles checked and
serviced sooner if they are experiencing wiper problems.

Last Friday, GM recalled about 1.8 million cars to fix an
electrical defect that can spark fires in the steering column
following 80 reports of problems.  The automaker said that it
had no reports of injuries or fatalities.

GM officials said in January that the automaker has had a hard
time convincing consumers that its quality has improved, even as
it has recorded improved results in quality studies, Reuters
reports.  About 40 percent of U.S. buyers do not consider buying
GM vehicles, GM officials said in May last year when the
automaker launched its "Road to Redemption" ads, which
acknowledged GM's past quality problems while asserting that its
new vehicles deserve a closer look.


GREYHOUND BUS: 17 Injured As Bus Crashes Into Nebraska Ditch
------------------------------------------------------------
17 people were injured as a Greyhound bus veered off an icy
Nebraska highway and rolled into a ditch Monday morning, the
Associated Press reports.

The bus, carrying 27 passengers and a driver, was traveling in
south-central Nebraska from Omaha to Cheyenne, Wyoming,
Greyhound spokeswoman Lynn Brown told AP.

The driver told investigators that a semitrailer ahead of the
bus lost control on the icy interstate and jackknifed in the
median.  The bus driver then swerved to miss the truck and
overturned into the ditch, Sheriff Jerry Watson told AP.  He
said the roads in the area were icy from blowing and drifting
snow overnight.

One passenger was in critical condition.  Many of the others
injured suffered cuts and bruises, AP reports.


HOME DEPOT: MD Resident Files Suit Over Payment Allocation Issue
----------------------------------------------------------------
Home improvement giant Home Depot, Inc. faces a class action
charging it with deceiving customers into signing up for
deferred payment promotions that aren't the good deal they
appear to be, Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News reports.

Baltimore resident Joseph King filed the suit in Maryland
federal court, alleging that payments intended to reduce high-
interest credit balances are instead applied to the interest-
free promotional balance -- sticking buyers with interest when
the whole point was to avoid it. Two similar suits are pending
against the Company in Seattle and San Diego.

"They promote interest-free loans for promotional purchases
without telling consumers that they will never get the benefit
of that product if they use their card to make a regular
purchase," Nick Styant-Browne, the Seattle attorney representing
plaintiffs in the West Coast cases, told the Tribune Business
News.

The suit described the scheme, stating that a typical Home Depot
promotion is six months with no payments or interest for
purchases of at least $299.  A customer charges a $1,000 washing
machine to a Home Depot store credit card, taking advantage of
the deal, and later buys a $200 chainsaw.  When she sends in
$200 to pay off the second purchase, it's applied to the no-
payment balance -- and she's hit with 21 percent interest on the
chainsaw.

The issue is "payment allocation," a new hot-button topic
because it's increasingly common for consumers to end up having
balances with different interest rates on the same card,
advocates say.  Consumer Federation of America is getting more
and more complaints that credit-card companies are applying
payments to the lower- or no-interest-rate balances first,
legislative director Travis B. Plunkett told the Tribune
Business News.

"We look at it as a misleading practice," Mr. Plunkett said.  
"This is counter to good debt management practice, it's counter
to all one's instincts, and it's a practice the credit-card
companies know harms consumers. And yet they still give
themselves the right to do it because they clearly want the
consumers paying off higher-interest debt later."

Look carefully at the fine print of a contract, he advises. It
might say the company can designate payment allocations in all
cases or if the consumers don't do so themselves.  "Credit-card
companies have gotten increasingly sneaky in their terms, and
this is one of their latest tricks," he said.

Home Depot's store credit cards were handled by the Monogram
Credit Card Bank of Georgia between 2000 and last summer, when
Citibank took over the operation.  Neither is named as
defendants in the Baltimore complaint, though Monogram is a co-
defendant in the West Coast suits.  General Electric Co.,
Monogram's parent company, said it intends to defend the
lawsuits "vigorously."

Home Depot spokesman Don Harrison said the company cannot
comment on pending litigation, the Tribune Business News states.  
Mr. King's attorney, Roy A. Katriel, could not be reached for
comment yesterday. "We strongly disagree with the plaintiffs'
characterization of the payment allocation methodology and the
factual assertions in their complaints," said Danielle Reilly, a
communications manager for GE, in a prepared statement.


LANTRONIX INC.: CA Court Allows Filing of Consolidated Lawsuit
--------------------------------------------------------------
The United States District Court for the Central District of
California allowed plaintiffs to file a consolidated amended
securities class action against Lantronix, Inc. by February
6,2004.

On May 15, 2002, Stephen Bachman filed a class action entitled
Bachman v. Lantronix, Inc., et al., No. 02-3899, against the
Company and certain of its current and former officers and
directors alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and seeking unspecified damages.  Subsequently, six similar
actions were filed in the same court.  Each of the complaints
purports to be a class action brought on behalf of persons who
purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's common stock
during the period of April 25, 2001 through May 30, 2002,
inclusive.

The complaints allege that the defendants caused the Company to
improperly recognize revenue and make false and misleading
statements about its business.  Plaintiffs further allege that
the defendants materially overstated the Company's reported
financial results, thereby inflating its stock price during its
securities offering in July 2001, as well as facilitating the
use of its common stock as consideration in acquisitions.  The
complaints have subsequently been consolidated into a single
action and the court has appointed a lead plaintiff.  The lead
plaintiff filed a consolidated amended complaint on January 17,
2003.  

The amended complaint purports to be a class action brought on
behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the
Company's common stock during the period of August 4, 2000
through May 30, 2002, inclusive.  The amended complaint
continues to assert that the Company and the individual officer
and director defendants violated the 1934 Act, and also includes
alleged claims that the Company and its officers and directors
violated the Securities Act of 1933 arising from the Company's
Initial Public Offering in August 2000.

The Company filed a motion to dismiss the additional allegations
on March 3, 2003.  The Court granted the motion, with leave to
amend, on December 31, 2003.  Plaintiffs have until February 6,
2004 to file an amended complaint.


LANTRONIX INC.: Discovery Proceeds in Derivative Lawsuit in CA
--------------------------------------------------------------
Discovery has commence in the shareholder derivative complaint,
styled "Ivy v. Bernhard Bruscha, et al., No. 02CC00209," filed
against certain of Lantronix, Inc.'s current and former officers
and directors in the Superior Court of the State of California,
County of Orange.

The amended complaint alleges causes of action for breach of
fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, unjust
enrichment, and improper insider stock sales.  The complaint
seeks unspecified damages against the individual defendants on
the Company's behalf, equitable relief, and attorneys' fees.

The Company filed a demurrer/motion to dismiss the amended
complaint on February 13, 2003.  The basis of the demurrer is
that the plaintiff does not have standing to bring this lawsuit
since plaintiff has never served a demand on the Company's Board
that the Board take certain actions on behalf of the Company.  
On April 17, 2003, the Court overruled the Company's demurrer.
All defendants have answered the complaint and generally denied
the allegations.  No trial date has been established.


MARTHA STEWART: Defense Team Set To Cross-Examine Star Witness
--------------------------------------------------------------
Lawyers for domestic trendsetter Martha Stewart will cross-
examine government star witness and former Brokerage assistant
Douglas Faneuil early next week, the Associated Press reports.  

Mr. Fanueil, the Merrill Lynch & Co. assistant who handled Ms.
Stewart's controversial December 2001 sale of ImClone Systems,
Inc. stock, delivered damaging testimony against Ms. Stewart and
her broker Peter Bacanovic last week.  He said that Mr.
Bacanovic ordered him to tip her that ImClone founder and Ms.
Stewart's friend Sam Waksal was selling his shares.  He also
claimed Mr. Bacanovic, desperately trying to protect a lucrative
career at Merrill, pressured him into initially lying to
investigators.  He changed his story in June 2002 and struck a
plea deal with the government.  Mr. Faneuil is expected to
return to the witness stand for his fourth day of testimony.

Ms. Stewart and Bacanovic are accused of repeatedly lying to the
government about the circumstances of the sale.  They claim they
had a pre-existing deal to sell ImClone when it fell to $60.  On
Thursday, Mr. Bacanovic's lawyers introduced e-mails in which
Mr. Faneuil described Ms. Stewart yelling and cursing at him.  
In one, he told a friend that he had defended himself and "Baby
put Ms. Martha in her place." The lawyers were hoping to show
Mr. Faneuil despised Ms. Stewart, was fixated with her, and was
out to get her.

Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor, told AP Mr. Faneuil's
testimony has been convincing so far, particularly in explaining
why he initially lied to the government.  "Doug Faneuil has come
across as credible," he said, "and as someone who has found
himself through no fault of his own as the linchpin of the
entire prosecution case."


MEXICAN BRACEROS: 200 Ex-Workers Stage Protest For Unpaid Wages
---------------------------------------------------------------
About 200 Mexican "braceros" - workers who were contracted by
the United States government to relieve labor shortage during
World War II - staged a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy in
Mexico, demanding pay that was withheld and never returned to
them after they went back to Mexico, the Associated Press
reports.  An estimated 300,000 workers were recruited by the
U.S. government.

On Monday, the braceros in straw hats gathered outside the
Embassy, demanding the U.S. government help track down the
salary withholdings, which some say disappeared after being
deposited in Mexican banks.  The braceros then marched to the
Los Pinos residence of President Vicente Fox.

For several years, around 10 percent of the workers' paychecks
were withheld for savings and pension funds that were supposed
to be paid to them once they returned to Mexico, AP reports.  A
class action was filed on behalf of the workers, but in 2002 a
U.S. federal judge in San Francisco dismissed most of it on
several technicalities.

Last month, President Bush proposed an immigration program for
migrants who now have jobs in the United States, prompting the
protest action.  The braceros "feel tricked and used," Francisco
Arredondo, a leader in the National Braceros Association, told
AP.

"The U.S. businesses that made the deductions know where the
money went," Mr. Arredondo continued.  "We're asking Bush and
the embassy not to be accomplices."

President Fox has ordered a criminal complaint filed against the
protesters who forced their way past guards Saturday, Interior
Secretary Santiago Creel said, according to an AP report.  "No
one can be permitted to invade someone else's property to
complain or make a demand," Mr. Creel said at a news conference.


MICROSOFT CORPORATION: Working For Settlement of Antitrust Suits
----------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Corporation is continuing in its efforts to settle a
large number of antitrust and unfair competition class actions
filed against it in various state and federal courts.

The federal cases have been consolidated in the U.S. District
Court for Maryland with the exception of one case which is
currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Arkansas.  These cases allege that the Company has
competed unfairly and unlawfully monopolized alleged markets for
operating systems and certain software applications, and they
seek to recover on behalf of variously defined classes of direct
and indirect purchasers overcharges the Company allegedly
charged for these products.  

To date, courts have dismissed all claims for damages against
the Company by indirect purchasers under federal law and in 16
states.  Eight of those state court decisions have been affirmed
on appeal.  Claims on behalf of foreign purchasers have also
been dismissed.  Appeals of several of these rulings are still
pending.  No trials have been held concerning any liability
issues.  Courts in eleven states have ruled that these cases may
proceed as class actions, while courts in two states have denied
class certification status, and another court has ruled that no
class action is available for antitrust claims in that state.

The Maryland District Court has certified a class of direct
purchasers of the Company's operating system software that
acquired the software from the shop, Microsoft.com web site or
pursuant to a direct marketing campaign and otherwise denied
certification of the proposed classes.  Members of the certified
class licensed fewer than 550,000 copies of at-issue operating
system software from Microsoft.

In September 2003, the Company reached an agreement with
plaintiffs' counsel to settle this action.  The settlement has
been preliminarily approved by the court but still requires
final approval.  In 2003, the Company reached an agreement with
counsel for the California plaintiffs to settle all claims in 27
consolidated cases in that state.  

Under the proposed settlement, class members will be able to
obtain vouchers on a claims made basis that entitle the class
members to be reimbursed up to the face value of their vouchers
for purchases of a wide variety of platform-neutral computer
hardware and software.  The total amount of vouchers issued will
depend on the number of class members who claim and are issued
vouchers.  Two-thirds of the amount of vouchers unissued or
unredeemed by class members will be made available to certain
schools in California in the form of vouchers that also may be
redeemed for cash against purchases of a wide variety of
platform neutral computer hardware, software and related
services.  The court in California preliminarily approved this
proposed settlement, but it still requires final approval by the
court.

In 2003, the Company also reached similar agreements to settle
all claims in Montana, Florida, West Virginia, North Carolina,
the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Kansas, Tennessee and
South Dakota.  The proposed settlements in these states are
structured similarly to the California settlement, except that,
among other differences, one-half of the amounts of vouchers
unissued to class members will be made available to certain
schools in the relevant states.  

The maximum amount of vouchers to be issued in these
settlements, including the California settlement, is $1.55
billion.  The actual costs of these settlements will be less
than that maximum amount, depending on the number of class
members and schools who are issued and redeem vouchers.  

The settlements in Florida and Montana have received final
approval by the relevant court.  The proposed settlements in
West Virginia, the District of Columbia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, South Dakota and Kansas have received preliminary
approval by the courts in those states, but still require final
approval.

The Company intends to continue vigorously defending the
remaining lawsuits, with trial scheduled to begin in Minnesota
on March 1, 2004.  The Company estimates the total cost to
resolve all of these cases will range between $935 million and
$1.1 billion with the actual cost dependent upon many unknown
factors such as the quantity and mix of products for which
claims will be made, the number of eligible class members who
ultimately use the vouchers, the nature of hardware and software
that is acquired using the vouchers, and the cost of
administering the claims process.


MONTANA: Judge Approves Pact In 7-Yr.-Old Disability Rights Suit  
----------------------------------------------------------------
The state of Montana reached an agreement for a 7-year-old civil
rights suit for developmentally disabled Montanans, agreeing to
move 45 people out of the state institution in Boulder by 2007,
the Associated Press reports.

This suit, called the Travis D. case after one of the 18 named
plaintiffs, charged the state with illegally institutionalizing
the developmentally disabled.  The suit tracks a nationwide
trend of de-institutionalizing the developmentally disabled.  
Since the 1970s, the Montana Developmental Center in Boulder has
seen its patient population decrease from 1,000 residents to 90
as people moved to community-based services.  A 1999 U.S.
Supreme Court decision mandated the integration of
developmentally disabled people into communities

The state and the Montana Advocacy Program announced an
agreement Thursday that will give developmentally disabled
people more opportunities to live in communities instead of
institutions.  Under the agreement, the state will move 45
residents - about half the institution's current population -
out of the Boulder facility by December 31, 2007.  The first 13
residents will be moved into community settings by March 31,
2005.

The settlement does require the state to provide $200,000 a year
for crises prevention and intervention services designed to
reduce the number of crisis admissions to the Boulder facility.
The state must hire a consultant to ease the transition. Another
provision of the settlement will call on the 2005 Legislature to
eliminate a statutory provision that allows for the
institutionalization of those who need "near total care."

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby in Great Falls gave
preliminary approval to the agreement late Wednesday, AP
reports.

"As Americans, we've evolved to realize that people with
disabilities are just like everyone else," Bernie Franks-Ongoy,
executive director of MAP told AP. "Instead of segregating
people in an institution, you make it happen so they can live in
the community like we do."

"To us, this is a landmark day because it continues the
evolution of developmentally disabled services," Joe Mathews,
administrator of the Disability Services Division in the state
Department of Public Health and Human Services, told AP.

Helena lawyer Andrie Larose, who represented more than 200
people in the class action suit, said the agreement enables
individuals, some of whom have been institutionalized since
childhood, to lead full lives.  "If given a chance and given the
tools they need, people with even the most significant
developmental disabilities experience growth and happiness as
contributing members of society," Mr. Larose told AP.  "In fact,
according to some studies, they make the greatest strides."


MUTUAL FUNDS FIRMS: Congress Passes Bill Set To Reform Industry
---------------------------------------------------------------
Three senators introduced a sweeping bill on Monday to reform
the $7.4-trillion U.S. mutual fund industry, attacking cozy ties
to Wall Street, including one seen as saddling investors with
hidden sales charges, Reuters News reports.

"We're taking the brokerage community off the gravy train" by
repealing a mutual fund law known as 12b-1, Sen. Peter
Fitzgerald at a news conference to unveil the bill, Reuters
states.

Co-sponsored by Maine Republican Susan Collins and Michigan
Democrat Carl Levin, the bill would ban several other practices
and puts pressure on the Securities and Exchange Commission as
it tees up a raft of its own mutual fund reforms.  

At a public meeting on Wednesday, the SEC will consider changing
its rules on 12b-1 fees, which mutual funds charge investors.
Originally designed in 1980 to help funds cover their marketing
costs, the fees today often act as masked sales loads, or
charges, according to fund critics.

"There's nothing wrong with an honest load, but funds should
call a load a load, make it account-based, and not disguise it,"
Sen. Fitzgerald, an Illinois Republican said. He said testimony
from a recent hearing he chaired showed at least two-thirds of
12b-1 fees go to brokers that steer customers toward certain
funds' shares.

Mutual funds, in which half of all U.S. households have
investments, were once viewed as beyond reproach. But a range of
government probes since last summer has revealed improper
trading in fund shares and other problems. The SEC, which
regulates the fund industry, initially took heavy criticism for
failing to head off the industry's crisis. But in recent months
it has undertaken a number of reforms.

At its Wednesday meeting, the commission will consider its 12b-1
changes, and whether to force mutual funds to disclose more to
investors about expenses, the securities held in fund portfolios
and internal fund operations. It has already adopted rules on
fund advertising and ordered funds to disclose more about proxy
voting and director selection. Further SEC proposals would force
funds to have more independent and influential directors, and
disclose more about links with Wall Street and how funds handle
market timing, a key issue at the root of recent trading
scandals.

"The SEC has actually been doing a pretty good job. They have
been getting more and more aggressive," Sen. Fitzgerald said,
Reuters reports. But, he said, "They cannot do this on their own
. It's necessary for Congress to legislate, to clean up the
law."

Along with repealing the 12b-1 law, the Fitzgerald bill would
ban revenue sharing, in which brokerages take payments from
funds to tout their shares ahead of others -- a problem also
targeted by the SEC. Brokerages handle two-thirds of the money
flowing in and out of the nation's 8,000 mutual funds. It would
also ban directed brokerage and soft dollar deals -- two other
widespread, but seldom disclosed practices posing potential
conflicts of interest for funds.

As the SEC has moved to do, the Fitzgerald bill would do more to
curb illegal late trading, another key area of wrongdoing
involved in recent government investigations.

"At some point you have to consider the cost to investors of all
these measures ... There's not much thought being given to
that," said Joel Goldberg, a partner at the law firm of Shearman
& Sterling and former director of the SEC's Division of
Investment Management, which oversees mutual funds.

The House of Representatives approved a mutual fund reform bill
last year written by Louisiana Republican Richard Baker. The
Senate has yet to act on several bills. Fitzgerald said his
latest bill is more comprehensive than others.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby recently called
the House-passed legislation "too weak." He said he would decide
after hearings whether legislation is needed.


MYLAN LABORATORIES: Asks MA Court To Dismiss Claims in AWP Suit
---------------------------------------------------------------
Mylan Laboratories, Inc. asked the United States District Court
of Massachusetts to dismiss the claims in two lawsuits filed
against it and other pharmaceutical manufacturers in the state
courts of California.

The plaintiffs allege the defendants unlawfully, unfairly and
fraudulently manipulated the reported average wholesale price of
various products, allegedly to increase third-party
reimbursements to others for their products.  The two cases have
been transferred to the "Average Wholesale Price" multi-district
litigation proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the
District of Massachusetts.  Plaintiffs seek equitable relief in
the form of disgorgement and restitution, attorneys' fees and
costs of litigation.


NEVIS CAPITAL: SEC Settles Admin. Cease-and-Desist Proceedings
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission settled administrative
and cease-and-desist proceedings previously instituted against
Nevis Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser,
and its principals, David R. Wilmerding, III, and Jon C. Baker.  

The Commission's Order found that from December 1998 through
July 2000, Nevis Capital, Mr. Wilmerding, and Mr. Baker
inequitably allocated all shares of initial public offerings
(IPOs) acquired by the firm to only two of their clients, that
they failed to disclose this IPO allocation practice, and that
they made false and misleading statements, in public filings and
in advertising, about the impact of this practice on the
performance of the Nevis Fund, a mutual fund managed by Nevis
Capital.  

Without admitting or denying the Commission's findings, Nevis
Capital, Mr. Wilmerding, and Mr. Baker consented to the entry of
an Order censuring each of them for their conduct, ordering that
they cease and desist from committing or causing any violations
and any future violations of Sections 206(1), 206(2), and 206(4)
of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and Rule 206(4)-
(1)(a)(5) thereunder, ordering that each pay disgorgement and
prejudgment interest in the amount of $10,000.00, and also
ordering that Nevis Capital pay a civil penalty in the amount of
$1,690,000.00, and that Mr. Wilmerding and Mr. Baker each pay a
civil penalty in the amount of $140,000.00.   

It is contemplated that the entire $2 million, $30,000.00 in
disgorgement and prejudgment interest, and $1,970,000.00 in
civil penalties, will be distributed to investors.  


ONEOK INC: Natural-Gas Traders Commence Gas Pricing Lawsuit  
-----------------------------------------------------------
A group of natural-gas traders filed a class action against
Tulsa-based ONEOK Inc. and its marketing subsidiary this week,
claiming the companies harmed traders by manipulating natural-
gas prices, Knight-Ridder/ Tribune Business News reports.

The lawsuit, which also names E Prime Inc. and Calpine Energy
Services as defendants, is related to a class-action complaint
filed in 2003 against 26 other energy companies and marketing
subsidiaries alleging similar practices. The original lawsuit
includes Tulsa-based Williams Cos. Inc. and its subsidiary
Williams Energy Marketing and Trading Co. as well as American
Electric Power Co., the parent company of electric utility Power
Service Co. of Oklahoma.

The lawsuits -- both filed in New York Federal District Court by
Cornerstone Propane Partners, Roberto Calle Gracey and Dominick
Viola and on behalf of hundreds of individual traders -- claim
the trading companies "deliberately reported inaccurate,
misleading and false trading information" to trade publications
in an attempt to manipulate the spot prices of natural gas.

Most of the companies named in the lawsuits have been
investigated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission for similar charges of
price manipulation dating back to the summer of 2000. Many of
the companies have settled for a combined $180 million in fines,
although none of the companies admitted guilt in the settlement
agreements.

ONEOK settled with the futures trading commission last week for
$3 million.  The Tulsa company filed a notice with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, acknowledging that
it has been named in the lawsuit. "Although it is too early to
accurately evaluate this matter, based on current information
available to us, we do not expect this matter to have a material
adverse effect on the company," the filing states. "The company
intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims."

Representatives for Williams and American Electric Power also
have said the case is without merit, The Tribune Business News
reports.

Industry analyst John E. Olson downplayed the lawsuit's
significance, calling it a "typical knee-jerk reaction" by the
plaintiff bar community. "This has been a high-profile area
since the summer of 2000 across the county, but it remains to be
seen whether any suit like this would have any standing or
merit," said Olson, an industry analyst with Sanders Morris
Harris in Houston. "Most of these suits go nowhere. You never
know when all these people are doing is throwing mud up against
the wall and hoping something sticks."

The plaintiff's attorney, however, said the fact that the
defendants have paid a combined $180 million in government fines
for similar allegations is proof that his case has merit. "We
wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for the government
charges against many of these defendants," said Bernard Persky,
an attorney with Goodkind Labaton Rudoff & Sucharow in New York.

"The government investigated them and asserted these claims
against many of these defendants. The claims were settled by
many of these defendants, and now we are simply seeking
compensation for the class of people we say were injured by this
unlawful conduct."

The lawsuit seeks actual damages in unspecified amounts for
alleged violations of the Commodities Exchange Act, recovery of
costs of the lawsuit and other appropriate relief.


STARCASH: SEC Settles Cease-and-Desist Proceedings V. 2 Agents
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission settled public
administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against certain
sales agents for Starcash, a South Florida payday advance
business whom the Commission had previously sued and obtained
injunctions against in U.S. District Court.

Without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, Michael B.
Rawdin and his company, Hard Asset Management, Inc., consented
to entry of an order imposing a cease-and-desist order against
them and barring them from association with any broker or
dealer.  The order found that Mr. Rawdin, while selling
Starcash's unregistered securities in 2001 and 2002, learned of
several problems with selling Starcash's securities, but
continued to market them and in the process made
misrepresentations and omissions to prospective Starcash
investors.  

The order found that, as a result, Mr. Rawdin and Hard Asset
Management violated Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act) and Sections 10(b) and
15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) and
Rule 10b-5 thereunder.  Mr. Rawdin agreed to pay disgorgement
and prejudgment interest of $62,439, which represented more than
two-thirds of the commissions Mr. Rawdin earned from Starcash.  
The SEC agreed to waive further disgorgement and not impose a
civil penalty based on Mr. Rawdin's representations in his Sworn
Statement of Financial Condition and other documents submitted
to the SEC.

Also without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, sales
agent David Cohen consented to entry of an order imposing a
cease-and-desist order and barring him from association with any
broker or dealer.   The SEC found that Mr. Cohen, while selling
Starcash's unregistered securities in 2001 and 2002, also
learned of several problems with selling Starcash's securities,
but continued to market them and in the process made
misrepresentations and omissions to prospective Starcash
investors.  

The order found that, as a result, Mr. Cohen violated Sections
5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities
Act) and Sections 10(b) and 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5.  Mr. Cohen agreed to pay
disgorgement and prejudgment interest of $190,752.60,
representing the commissions he made from Starcash.  He also
agreed to pay a $120,000 civil penalty.   


SUPERBOWL: TN Woman Withdraws Lawsuit Over Janet Jackson's Stunt
----------------------------------------------------------------
Knoxville woman Terri Carlin voluntarily dismissed the proposed
class action she filed over singer Janet Jackson's breast
exposure during this year's Super Bowl halftime show, the
KnoxNews.com reports.

The now-infamous exposure happened at the end of Ms. Jackson's
halftime show number with pop star Justin Timberlake.  Mr.
Timberlake ripped off part of her costume during their duet,
exposing one of her breasts.  Viewers have debated not only
whether it was a stunt or "wardrobe malfunction," as Mr.
Timberlake called it, but also where the line of broadcast
decency should be drawn.

The suit, filed in the United States District Court in
Tennessee, charges the two performers, as well as television
networks MTV, CBS and Viacom International, Inc., owner of the
two channels.  The suit alleged that the "all Americans who
watched the halftime show" were injured by their lewd actions.

According to the notice of dismissal, Ms. Carlin wants to wait
and see if "remedial measures recently announced by the
corporate defendants, the potential (Federal Communications
Commission) sanctions and perhaps the passage of stronger
enforcement provisions will prevent further similar conduct."

Ms. Carlin's attorney Wayne A. Ritchie II maintained that the
lawsuit was not a frivolous bid for attention or cash but
instead reflected her convictions that the shocking showstopper
overstepped the bounds of decency.  He stated that Ms. Carlin
only sought to send a message that corporations can and will be
held accountable for violating the public's trust.

"It is Mrs. Carlin's hope that from this point, the corporate
defendants will use their resources to schedule artists whose
considerable talents and personal integrity can be celebrated by
all Americans, rather than performers willing to resort to the
shock value of groping themselves, wardrobe malfunctions or
committing simulated sexual assaults in front of millions of
American children and families," Mr. Ritchie wrote, KnoxNews
reports.

The notice of dismissal also stated that Ms. Carlin and Mr.
Ritchie "have already been overwhelmed by calls and mail from
hundreds of supportive parents from nearly every state in the
country who wish to be included." Because of the "diversity of
citizenship" of members of the proposed class of plaintiffs in
the lawsuit, Mr. Ritchie wrote such a legal action would be more
appropriately filed in the state court system.

Contacted Monday afternoon, Mr. Ritchie told KnoxNews.com Carlin
was thankful for the strong show of support she has received but
disappointed in those who mocked the effort.  "There is a
segment of our society that is indifferent to whether simulated
sexual assaults are celebrated in front of millions of
children," he said.


THIMEROSAL LITIGATION: Health Experts To Re-Examine Autism Links   
----------------------------------------------------------------
A panel of independent experts from the Institute of Medicine
will go through several new studies on the possibility that
vaccines, especially those made with a mercury preservative, may
cause autism, Reuters reports.

Several advocacy groups have asserted that the vaccines caused
autism, which appears to be on the rise, although there are no
clear studies showing whether it is occurring more often, or
simply being recognized more as a disorder separate from mental
retardation or mental illness.  Because it is usually diagnosed
during the toddler years, when children receive many of the 18
or so early childhood shots, many groups believe vaccines are to
blame.

The mercury preservative thimerosal is no longer found in
childhood vaccines in the United States, but remains in the
influenza vaccine and in vaccines in other countries.  The
American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Public health
Service recommended removing thimerosal from childhood vaccines
in 1999 as a precaution, Reuters reports.

The panel issued its last report in 2001, saying that there was
no evidence that vaccines caused autism.  It, however,
acknowledged the lack of research on the issue.  "Since the
Institute of Medicine released its report on autism back in
2001, there have been new studies done since, and there are
still ongoing concerns among parents about this issue,"
Christine Stencel, a spokeswoman for the institute, told
Reuters.

The panel will examine a raft of new studies on the subject,
including a Danish study of nearly 500,000 children that found
no link between vaccines and autism and a U.S. study that found
a possible mechanism for mercury, lead and other heavy metals to
cause such disorders.

Scientists say it is plausible that if thimerosal got into the
brain, it could cause brain damage.  In one study published last
week, Richard Deth of Northeastern University in Massachusetts
found that DNA damage done by thimerosal, lead and some other
metals could damage nerve cell signaling.

Dr. Polly Sager of the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Disease will also speak to the panel.  She reviewed
several studies that show babies eliminate the mercury found in
thimerosal within days.  "The fact that it is excreted in stool
really is pretty exciting," she said in a telephone interview,
Reuters states.  "It is a simple concept -- if a kid is pooping
out mercury, it is not in their body, it is not getting to their
brain, it can't do damage."

Boyd Haley of the University of Kentucky will discuss a study
that suggests autistic children have lower-than-expected levels
of mercury in their hair, raising questions about whether
mercury remains in their tissues and if they have an impaired
ability to rid their bodies of the toxic metal.


TURKCELL: Agrees To Settle Securities Fraud Suit For $19.2M
-----------------------------------------------------------
One of Turkey's biggest cellular phone companies Turkcell agreed
to settle the consolidated securities class action filed against
it and two of its officers and directors for $19.2 million, RCR
Wireless News reports.

The complaint, filed in late 2000, alleged violations of section
11 of the Securities Act of 1933, after the Company
misrepresented the churn rate for its cellular phone customers
in Turkey by a factor of at least 30 and possibly 100 in the the
registration statement for an initial public offering, launched
in July 2000.  

Under the settlement, all claims against the company will be
dismissed.  "Although we continue to believe that plaintiffs'
claims are without merit, we are pleased to put the uncertainty
and expense of the class-action litigation behind us," Muzaffer
Akpinar of Turkcell told RCR.


WORLD AIRWAYS: Faces DOT Probe Over Nigeria Flights Complaint
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Department of Transportation has commenced an inquiry into
World Airways and Ritetime Aviation's operation of flights to
and from Nigeria.  

The investigation relates to World Airways decision to
completely cease flight operations to Nigeria, abandoning
passengers with round trip tickets and leaving the majority of
them stranded in Lagos, Nigeria for over three (3) weeks.

In a letter to the Department's Counsel for Aviation
Enforcement, Ike O. Echeruo, Esq., an attorney for the
plaintiffs stated, "World Airways and Ritetime appear to have
engaged in repeated violations of DOT regulations, specifically
imposed to protect the traveling public" and urged the
Department to commence formal enforcement.

"I am pleased that the DOT is investigating. Based on my
correspondence with the Department I am satisfied that the
Department is taking this matter seriously," Mr. Echeruo said in
the statement.

If the Department concludes that World Airways is in violation
of its regulations it can take a number of measures against the
airline, including the revocation or modification of its
operating license.

"In light of World Airways unconscionable conduct in abandoning
its passengers and violating the law we hope that at the
conclusion of its investigation the DOT will hold the airline
accountable and mete out the appropriate penalties An airline
can't simply abandon United States citizens in a foreign
country, especially an airline that derives most of its revenue
from the United States government," John Edozie, Esq., attorney
for the plaintiffs said.

Echeruo, Counsel, Attorneys at Law, LLP and Madu, Edozie & Madu,
P.C. filed a class action lawsuit against World Airways,
Ritetime Aviation and Peter Obafemi in relation to World Airways
flight operation to and from Nigeria.

For more information, contact Ike Echeruo, by Phone:
12-295-2189, or visit the firm's Website:
http://www.counsel-law.com.


                Meetings, Conferences & Seminars


* Scheduled Events for Class Action Professionals
-------------------------------------------------

February 18-20, 2004
CIVIL PRACTICE AND LITIGATION TECHNIQUES IN FEDERAL AND STATE
COURTS
ALI-ABA
Scottsdale, Arizona
Contact: 215-243-1614; 800-CLE-NEWS x1614

February 23-24, 2004
ASBESTOS LITIGATION 101
Mealey Publications
The Westin, Philadephia
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

February 23-24, 2004
REINSURANCE 101
Mealey Publications
The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common, Boston
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 8-9, 2004
THE ROLE OF PARALEGALS IN MASS TORT LITIGATION
Mealey Publications
The Westin Chicago River North, Chicago
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 9, 2004
PATENT LITIGATION CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
The Westin Chicago River North, Chicago
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 9, 2004
INSURANCE CLAIMS CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
The Westin Chicago River North, Chicago
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 11-12, 2004
CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES LITIGATION 2004
Practicing Law Institute
New York
Contact: 800-260-4pli; info@pli.edu

March 11-12, 2004
WELDING ROD LITIGATION CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 18-19, 2004
SECURITIES, DRUGS & ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION
MassTortsMadePerfect.Com
The Fairmont, San Francisco, California
Contact: 1-800-320-2227; register@masstortsmadeperfect.com

March 22-23, 2004
INSURANCE CLAIMS CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
The Westin Kierland, Scottsdale, AZ
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 22-23, 2004
EMERGING DRUGS AND DIVICES CONFERENCE FOR PLAINTIFF ATTORNEYS
Mealey Publications
The Westin Kierland, Scottsdale, AZ
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 22-23, 2004
DEFENSE STRATEGIES IN PHARMACEUTICAL LITIGATION CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
The Westin Kierland, Scottsdale, AZ
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

March 22-23, 2004
INSURANCE 101 CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
The Westin Hotel, Philadelphia
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

April 7-8, 2004
INSURANCE LAW 2004: UNDERSTANDING THE ABC'S
Practicing Law Institute
New York
Contact: 800-260-4pli; info@pli.edu

April 14-17, 2004
INSURANCE INSOLVENCY AND REINSURANCE ROUNDTABLE
Mealey Publications
The Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, AZ
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

April 15-16, 2004
OPINION AND EXPERT TESTIMONY IN FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS
ALI-ABA
New Orleans
Contact: 215-243-1614; 800-CLE-NEWS x1614

April 15-16, 2004
HANDLING CONSTRUCTION RISKS 2004: ALLOCATE NOW OR LITIGATE LATER
Practicing Law Institute
New York
Contact: 800-260-4pli; info@pli.edu

April 22-24, 2004
LITIGATING MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMS
ALI-ABA
New Orleans
Contact: 215-243-1614; 800-CLE-NEWS x1614

May 6-7, 2004
CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES LITIGATION 2004
Practicing Law Institute
San Francisco
Contact: 800-260-4pli; info@pli.edu

May 6-7, 2004
CONFERENCE ON LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE LITIGATION
ALI-ABA
Washington, D.C. Tuition $995
Contact: 215-243-1614; 800-CLE-NEWS x1614

May 20-21, 2004
ACCOUNTANTS' LIABILITY
ALI-ABA
Chicago
Contact: 215-243-1614; 800-CLE-NEWS x1614

June 10 & 11, 2004
SECURITIES, DRUGS & ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION
MassTortsMadePerfect.Com
Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Contact: 1-800-320-2227; register@masstortsmadeperfect.com

July 15-16, 2004
PRODUCTS LIABILITY
ALI-ABA
Chicago
Contact: 215-243-1614; 800-CLE-NEWS x1614

TBA
FAIR LABOR STANDARDS CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

TBA
AIRLINE BANKRUPTCY LITIGATION CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com

TBA
FASTFOOD INDUSTRY LIABILITY CONFERENCE
Mealey Publications
Contact: 1-800-MEALEYS; 610-768-7800;
mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com



* Online Teleconferences
------------------------


May 6-7, 2004
CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES LITIGATION 2004
Practicing Law Institute
Contact: 800-260-4pli; info@pli.edu

ADVERSARIAL PROCEEDINGS IN ASBESTOS BANKRUPTCIES
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Online Streaming Video
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

ASBESTOS BANKRUPTCY - PANEL OF CREDITORS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Online Streaming Video
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

EXPERT WITNESS ADMISSIBILITY IN MOLD CASES
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Online Streaming Video
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

INTRODUCTION TO CLASS ACTIONS AND LARGE RECOVERIES
Big Class Action
Contact: seminars@bigclassaction.com

NON-TRADITIONAL DEFENDANTS IN ASBESTOS LITIGATION
Online Streaming Video
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

PAXIL LITIGATION
Online Streaming Video
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING BAYCOL
Online Streaming Video
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

RECOVERIES
Big Class Action
Contact: seminars@bigclassaction.com

SELECTION OF MOLD LITIGATION EXPERTS: WHO YOU NEED ON YOUR TEAM
Online Streaming Video
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

SHOULD I FILE A CLASS ACTION?
LawCommerce.Com / Law Education Institute
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

THE EFFECTS OF ASBESTOS ON THE PULMONARY SYSTEM
Online Streaming Video
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

THE STATE OF ASBESTOS LITIGATION: JUDICIAL PANEL DISCUSSION
Online Streaming Video
LawCommerce.Com/Mealey's
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

TRYING AN ASBESTOS CASE
LawCommerce.Com
Contact: customerservice@lawcommerce.com

THE IMPACT OF LORILLAR ON STATE AND LOCAL REGULATION OF TOBACCO
SALES
AND ADVERSTISING
American Bar Association
Contact: 800-285-2221; abacle@abanet.org

________________________________________________________________
The Meetings, Conferences and Seminars column appears in the
Class Action Reporter each Wednesday.  Submissions via e-mail to
carconf@beard.com are encouraged.

                New Securities Fraud Cases

ADECCO SA: Deadline To File Lead Plaintiff Motion Set March 16
--------------------------------------------------------------  
The law firm of Glancy Binkow & Goldberg LLP announced that the
deadline to move for lead plaintiff in the shareholder lawsuit
brought against Adecco SA, on behalf of all persons and
institutions who purchased securities of Adecco SA between April
19, 2000, and January 12, 2004, inclusive, is set for March 16,
2004.  

The Complaint charges Adecco and certain of the Company's
executive officers with violations of federal securities laws.
Among other things, plaintiff claims that defendants'
dissemination of materially false and misleading statements
concerning Adecco's financial performance caused the Company's
stock price to become artificially inflated, inflicting damages
on investors.

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period defendants
caused Adecco to report in its public filings, press releases
and other public statements favorable financial results by,
among other things, artificially inflating the Company's revenue
and earnings by improper accounting practices. On January 12,
2004, an Adecco press release announced a delay in the
completion of an audit of the Company's 2003 financial results.
Moreover, the press release disclosed that the delay was the
result of "material weaknesses in internal controls in the
Company's North American operations of Adecco Staffing" and
"possible accounting, control and compliance issues in the
Company's operations in certain countries." News of the
Company's accounting problems shocked the market, causing
Adecco's stock price to plummet more than 30% on the day the
press release was issued.

For more information, contact Lionel Z. Glancy, by Phone:
(310) 201-9161 or (888) 773-9224, by E-mail: info@glancylaw.com,
or visit the firm's Website: http://www.glancylaw.com


AGCO CORPORATION: Brian Felgoise Launches Securities Suit in IL
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Offices of Brian M. Felgoise, P.C. initiated a
securities class action in the United States District Court for
the North District of Illinois, on behalf of shareholders who
acquired AGCO Corp. securities between February 6, 2003 and
February 5, 2004, inclusive, against the company and certain key
officers and directors.

The action charges that defendants violated the federal
securities laws by issuing a series of materially false and
misleading statements to the market throughout the Class Period
which statements had the effect of artificially inflating the
market price of the Company's securities.

For more information, contact Brian M. Felgoise, by Mail: 261
Old York Road, Suite 423, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, 19046, by
Phone: (215) 886-1900, or by E-mail:
securitiesfraud@comcast.net.


AGCO CORPORATION: Charles Piven Files Securities Suit in N.D. IL
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. initiated a securities
class action in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois, on behalf of shareholders who
purchased, converted, exchanged or otherwise acquired the common
stock of AGCO Corp. between February 6, 2003 and February 5,
2004, inclusive, against defendant AGCO, and:

     (1) Robert J. Ratliff, and

     (2) Andrew H. Beck

The action charges that defendants violated federal securities
laws by issuing a series of materially false and misleading
statements to the market throughout the Class Period which
statements had the effect of artificially inflating the market
price of the Company's securities.

For more information, contact Charles J. Piven, P.A., by Mail:
The World Trade Center-Baltimore, 401 East Pratt Street, Suite
2525, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, by Phone: 410/986-0036, or by
E-mail: hoffman@pivenlaw.com.


DATATEC SYSTEMS: Shalov Stone Commences Securities Lawsuit in NJ
----------------------------------------------------------------
The law firm of Shalov Stone & Bonner LLP initiated a securities
fraud class action lawsuit in federal court for the District of
New Jersey, on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Datatec
Systems, Inc. between June 26, 2003 and December 16, 2003,
inclusive.  

The complaint alleges violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act. CEO Isaac Gaon told investors that
Datatec was on track to earn $0.14 to $0.16 per share for fiscal
2004. Datatec, however, hid its true financial condition so that
it could obtain continued financing from IBM Credit, an
important company lender.

On December 5, 2003, Datatec surprised investors with the news
that CEO Gaon had been thrown out and replaced by a new CEO,
Raul Pupo. On December 17, 2003, Datatec told investors it would
suffer a $10 million loss for the fiscal quarter ended October
31, 2003, and that Datatec's Audit Committee had hired outside
counsel to review Datatec's valuation of its long-term
contracts. IBM Credit has since refused to waive Datatec's non-
compliance with financial covenants. Datatec's stock price fell
substantially on large volume.

For more information, contact Lauren Fishman, Legal Assistant,
by Mail: 485 Seventh Ave., Suite 1000, New York, NY 10018, by
Phone: (212) 239-4340, or by E-mail: lfishman@lawssb.com


DATATEC SYSTEMS: Brian Felgoise Launches Securities Suit in NJ
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Offices of Brian M. Felgoise, P.C. initiated a
securities class action in Federal Court for the District of New
Jersey, on behalf of shareholders who acquired Datatec Systems,
Inc. securities between June 26, 2003 and December 16, 2003,
inclusive, against the company and certain key officers and
directors.

The action charges that defendants violated the federal
securities laws by issuing a series of materially false and
misleading statements to the market throughout the Class Period
which statements had the effect of artificially inflating the
market price of the Company's securities.

For more information, contact Brian M. Felgoise, by Mail: 261
Old York Road, Suite 423, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, 19046, by
Phone: (215) 886-1900, or by E-mail:
securitiesfraud@comcast.net.


REDBACK NETWORKS: Deadline To File For Lead Plaintiff Is Feb. 20
----------------------------------------------------------------
The law firm of Wechsler Harwood LLP announced that the deadline
to move for lead plaintiff in the securities class action suit
against Redback Networks Inc., on behalf of persons or entities
who purchased or otherwise acquired Redback securities between
April 12, 2000 and October 10, 2003, inclusive, is set February
20, 2004.

The case names certain senior officers and directors of Redback
as defendants and alleges that during the Class Period, the
defendants failed to disclose and indicate the following adverse
facts which ultimately lead to Redback's bankruptcy:

     (1) that the Company's financial results were materially
         inflated because Redback entered into a sales pact with
         Qwest;

     (2) that this sales pact with Qwest called for Qwest to
         purchase large quantities of Redback merchandise in
         exchange for shares of Redback stock;

     (3) that under this sales pact Qwest had no obligation to
         purchase more merchandise from Redback in the future;
         and

     (4) as a result of this sales pact, Redback materially
         overstated and artificially inflated its earnings and
         net income.

On November 3, 2003, Redback filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection. On news of this, shares of Redback fell 18.18% to
close at $0.36 per share and are now worthless

For more information, contact Virgilio Soler, Wechsler Harwood
Shareholder Relations Department, by Mail: 488 Madison Avenue,
8th Floor, New York, New York 10022, by Phone: (877) 935-7400
(toll free), or by E-mail: vsoler@whesq.com.


WINN-DIXIE STORES: Paskowitz & Associates Files Suit in M.D. FL
---------------------------------------------------------------
The law firm of Paskowitz & Associates initiated a class action
lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida, on behalf of all purchasers of the common
stock of Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. from October 9, 2002 through
January 29, 2004, inclusive.

The complaint charges Winn-Dixie, Allen Rowland, Frank Lazaran,
and Richard P. McCook with violations of Sections 10(b) and
20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder. During the Class Period, the defendants
issued a series of material misrepresentations to the market
concerning the Company's financial results.

More specifically, the defendants' statements during the Class
Period were materially false and misleading because they failed
to disclose and/or misrepresented the following adverse facts,
among others:

     (1) that Winn- Dixie's business operations were mismanaged
         and burning cash such that the Company was unable to
         reduce excess expenses when needed;

     (2) that the Company had no such strategic vision in place
         to enhance shareholder value and thus would not be able
         to sustain dividend payments to shareholders;

     (3) that the Company was unable to competitively market its
         Winn-Dixie product brand;

     (4) that Winn-Dixie was unable to gain a greater market
         share for its supermarkets;

     (5) that the loss of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
         automated teller machines would result in a decline in
         sales in stores that had these ATMs; and

     (6) that the Company recorded the carrying value of its
         durable assets at inflated levels and maintained
         inadequate reserves for self-insurance.

On January 30, 2004, Winn-Dixie announced net losses from sales
and operations for its second quarter of fiscal 2004. The
Company also announced major new initiatives designed to improve
competitive market position and profitability and announced that
it had to take an asset impairment charge of $36.4 million and
an increase in self-insurance reserves of $21.4 million. News of
this shocked the market. Shares of Winn-Dixie dropped 27.8%, or
$2.53 per share, to close at $6.56 on January 30, 2004 on
extremely heavy volume.

For more information, contact Paskowitz & Associates, by Phone:
1-800-705-9529, or by e-mail: classattorney@aol.com.


WINN-DIXIE STORES: Milberg Weiss Launches Securities Suit in FL
---------------------------------------------------------------
The law firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP
initiated a class action lawsuit in the United States District
Court for the Middle District of Florida, on behalf of
purchasers of the securities of Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. during
the period of May 6, 2002 through and including January 29,
2004, seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, against defendants Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. and:

     (1) Allen Rowland,

     (2) Frank Lazaran, and

     (3) Richard P. McCook  

According to the complaint, defendants violated sections 10(b)
and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

The complaint charges the defendants with violations of Sections
10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule
10b-5 promulgated thereunder. Throughout the Class Period,
defendants issued a series of material misrepresentations to the
market concerning the Company's financial condition. Defendants
assured investors that Winn-Dixie was successfully executing its
business plan to completely restructure the Company and its
stores and to restore profitability. Defendants also regularly
announced the issuance of cash dividends as an additional sign
of the Company's purported financial health.

On January 30, 2004, Winn-Dixie announced a loss for the second
quarter of 2004 of nearly $80 million or $0.57 per share.
Shockingly, defendants announced that dividend payments would be
suspended indefinitely, after assuring investors only a few days
earlier, on January 20, 2004, that the dividend would be paid
and that the Company was moving forward in the execution of its
business plan. In the January 30, 2004 announcement, defendants
revealed a plan for $100 million in expense reductions and
analysis of the Company's core markets. Winn-Dixie also
announced it would need to add $21.4 million to reserves for
self-insurance, and would recognize a $36.4 million charge to
earnings for an impaired asset. Standard & Poor's cut the
Company's debt rating saying this reflected a "severe and rapid
deterioration in Winn-Dixie's operating performance." In
response to the unexpected news, Winn-Dixie's stock plunged
nearly 28% on unusually high volume of nearly 25 million shares.

For more information, contact Steven G. Schulman, by Mail: One
Pennsylvania Plaza, 49th fl., New York, NY, 10119-0165, by
Phone: 800-320-5081, or by E-mail: winndixie@milberg.com.


                        *********

A list of Meetings, Conferences and Seminars appears in each
Wednesday's edition of the Class Action Reporter. Submissions
via e-mail to carconf@beard.com are encouraged.

Each Friday's edition of the CAR includes a section featuring
news on asbestos-related litigation and profiles of target
asbestos defendants that, according to independent researches,
collectively face billions of dollars in asbestos-related
liabilities.  The Asbestos Defendant Profiles is backed by an
online database created to respond to custom searches. Go to
http://litigationdatasource.com/asbestos_defendant_profiles.html

                        *********


S U B S C R I P T I O N   I N F O R M A T I O N

Class Action Reporter is a daily newsletter, co-published by
Bankruptcy Creditors' Service, Inc., Fairless Hills,
Pennsylvania, USA, and Beard Group, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
USA.  Roberto Amor, Aurora Fatima Antonio and Lyndsey Resnick,
Editors.

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.  ISSN 1525-2272.

This material is copyrighted and any commercial use, resale or
publication in any form (including e-mail forwarding, electronic
re-mailing and photocopying) is strictly prohibited without
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Information contained herein is obtained from sources believed
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The CAR subscription rate is $575 for six months delivered via
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