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States want more pressure on Microsoft

By Times wires
Published October 20, 2007

WASHINGTON - Florida and three other states concerned about Microsoft Corp.'s market power are pressing a federal court to extend by five years oversight of the software company that began in 2002 as part of a landmark antitrust settlement. The request, filed late Thursday, represents a reversal for New York, Maryland, Louisiana and Florida. In August, the group submitted court papers, along with the Justice Department, that said the consent decree had achieved its goal of safeguarding competition in certain software markets.

Ford sued over cruise control fires
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - A Virginia truck owner is suing Ford Motor Co., saying his 2000 Ford F-150 XLT caught fire in October 2006 because of problems with the cruise control switch. The suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois by Gary Medrano, seeks class-action certification. The 10-count complaint, which didn't list a specific amount, is asking for compensatory and punitive damages.

Tiremaker told to pay $32.4M
DONALDSONVILLE, La. - The U.S. division of Michelin & Cie, the world's second-largest tiremaker, must pay $32.4-million to a Louisiana woman left paralyzed after the car she was riding in skidded off a wet highway before crashing. The woman, Drusilla Boudreaux, 54, claimed Michelin North America Inc. failed to properly warn consumers and dealers that new tires should be placed on rear axles "if you just buy two new ones," said her attorney, Carey Wicker. Placement on the front axle increases the chance that a driver can lose control in wet conditions, Wicker said.

Airlines follow suit in raising fares
FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines, Northwest Airlines Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. joined competitors in raising most U.S. round-trip fares as much as $20 as jet fuel prices approach record levels. AMR Corp.'s American adopted the higher fares, initiated by UAL Corp.'s United Airlines on Wednesday, in most markets, a spokesman said Friday. Delta Air Lines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. raised prices Thursday.

Lack of interest hits Countrywide
CALABASAS, Calif. - Countrywide Financial Corp. fell to a 4 1/2-year low after billionaire Warren Buffett said he "never came close" to buying shares of the biggest U.S. mortgage lender. Countrywide dropped $1.28, or 7.8 percent, to $15.23 in New York Stock Exchange trading. It was its lowest close since April 2003.

Grocer loses $10M in e-mail scam
BOISE, Idaho - Supervalu, one of the nation's largest grocers, has fallen prey to an e-mail scam, losing about $10-million after wiring money to fraudulent bank accounts, according to court filings.

Radiation Therapy fetches $763.8M
FORT MYERS - Radiation Therapy Services Inc., which operates radiation therapy centers, said Friday it has agreed to be bought out by private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners for about $763.8-million.

[Last modified October 19, 2007, 23:39:13]