Business today

By Times staff, wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 14, 2000

MICROSOFT FILES APPEAL: The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it would hear Microsoft's appeal of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's breakup order, but the govern- ment may still be able to bypass that court in favor of a direct hearing before the Supreme Court. Microsoft almost simultaneously filed a notice of appeal with Jackson and a motion with the circuit court to stay Jackson's penalties. Government attorneys, who had to wait until Microsoft filed its notice of appeal, filed their request to send the case directly to the Supreme Court late Tuesday. If Jackson approves expediting the case, as he has indicated he is inclined to do, the Supreme Court would decide whether it would take the appeal directly or would have the circuit court hear the case first.

BEST BUY SETTLES FLORIDA COMPLAINT: Best Buy agreed to pay $200,000 to settle allegations that sales staff duped Florida consumers into buying the store's high-profit extended warranties. The state Attorney General's Office alleged that Best Buy's sales staff routinely told customers that manufacturers' warranties weren't any good and that they needed Best Buy extended-coverage plans. Best Buy admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pay the costs of investigating the complaint and to set up training programs to deter sales staff from using such high-pressure tactics.

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