European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 1, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes Friday july 1,1988 d d in Navy Pilot s de contractor Nof under Legal immunity court rules Washington a the supreme court thursday let stand a ruling that forced a defense contractor to pay damages for an on duty Accident involving a Navy Pilot. The court without comment rejected an Appeal by Grumman aerospace corp., which was ordered to pay$840,556 to the Pilot s family. The court s action comes just three Days after the justices ruled that govern ment contractors enjoy sweeping Lega immunity from personal injury lawsuits. In monday s ruling the court said con tractors cannot be sued if they designed the equipment according to government specifications and notified the government about any hazards they knew about. It appears a Federal appeals court s Rul ing in the Grumman aerospace Case focused on the Navy s Lack of notification about any hazards. The death of Navy it. Gary s. Shaw Offort Lauderdale fla., was blamed on a design defect in Grumman s a-6  plane crashed within seconds after Tak ing off from the aircraft Carrier Constella Tion about 100 Miles off the coast of san Diego in 1979. Navy investigators said the most Likely cause of the crash was the loss or failure of a Bolt in the plane s system for con trolling its up and Down movement. Although the a-6 is the mainstay of the Navy s Carrier based attack Fleet there have been at least six other Acci dents involving the plane s flight control mechanism since the 1960s. In 1981, Shaw s father Edwin Lee Shaw sued Over his son s death. Last december the Lith . Circuit court of appeals upheld the $840,556 jury award against Grumman. The appeals court said military con tractors in such cases Are not exempt from liability. Grumman contended that forcing it Topay undermines the military s Independence and violates the separation of Powers by giving courts too much Power. But the appeals court said although the Navy did formally approve Grum Man s a-6 specifications and design changes that approval did not constitute the sort of informed military decision to accept the risk of a dangerous product to which this court must defer under Sepa ration of Powers  in such cases the appeals court said the defense contractor has More information about risks and the military May simply be working in the  the appeals court added our Centra concern is whether or not the military Actu ally made a decision to use a product that i knew to be dangerous to  since the military was not sued by the Shaw family it was up to Grumman to prove it followed very specific orders i designing the a-6, the appeals court said adding that the company failed to do so. Grumman had argued that allowing damages in such lawsuits would undermine servicemen s Confidence and give comforto enemies of the United states. If anything persuades pilots to trem ble and the enemy to rejoice it will be the a-6 s Accident record itself no this court s recognition of it the appeals court said. A Lotta hot air up photo contestants in the great american balloon est Are practically walking on air heated air at Lisle 111., As Kodak s 10-Day balloon race kicks off in Celebration of the 100th anniversary of the snapshot one Hundred balloons in the Chicago Kansas City St Louis event Are competing for $60,000 in prize Money. . Foreign debt surged lost year to $368.2 billion Washington a America s foreign debt soared to $368.2 billion in 1987 As the country length ened its Lead As the world s largest debtor nation the government said thursday. The Commerce department said the new debt Bur Den was 36.8 percent higher than a revised $269.2 billion debt to foreigners that the United states was carrying at the end of 1986. The deterioration Means that the country now has debt Load greater than the total debt being carried by Brazil Mexico and Argentina combined the third world countries with the largest debt burdens. Simply put the . Debt Means that foreigners no own More in . Assets than americans own abroad. For 1987, the government reported that foreign hold Ings in the United states increased 14.6 percent to $1.54 trillion. This compared to a 9 percent Rise i american investments overseas which totalled $1.17 trillion at the end of 1987. The difference Between foreign investments in this country and american holdings overseas represents the $368.2 billion debt Burden the country is carrying. As recently As 1982, the United states was the world largest creditor nation with an investment surplus of $136.9 billion. But America s investment surplus evaporated As the country ran up huge merchandise Trade deficits during the 1980s, transferring billions of dollars into the hands of foreigners to pay for color televisions stereo equipment and automobiles. These dollars now in foreign hands have been re invested in the United states in everything from . Government Bonds to los Angeles real estate. White House to initiate mandatory drug testing Washington a the White House on the heels of revelations that five employees were relieved of their duties As authorities investigate drug use said thursday it will soon begin Manda tory random drug tests of its employees. Spokesman Martin Fitzwater said the months old investigation which has resulted in the dismissal of two National Security Council clerks and the suspension of three White House guards Illus trates All too Well the terrible fact of drug use in our  Reagan when asked about the developments first reported in thursday s Washington Post said yes of course i am upset that it drug use is found any  asked if he thought his Security had been endangered the president replied no i Don t think  Reagan posing with Republican con Gressmen who had come to the White House to discuss drug policy options said that if White House workers Are found to be using drugs he would like Tosee them enter drug treatment programs. If it was just a Case of using drugs Reagan said then i would like to see us do our Best to get them into a drug treat ment organization with a View to at tempting a cure let the people know that then we will do our Best to Salvage anyone who has been a  on wednesday White House spokeswoman Liz Murphy said the two clerks had admitted drug use and were separated from the  Fitzwater thursday told reporters that the clerks had agreed to resign several months ago. Asked at what level the Csc clerk worked Fitzwater said he could not specify except to say they were at the Secretary  pressed to say whether the two were involved in handling sensitive matters he responded it s fair to assume that everyone who works at the Csc has a Cess to sensitive material Fitzwater said Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan who has led a Campaign to just say no to drugs have known of the investigation by the drug enforce ment administration and the secret service for several months. It was started last Winter when allegations were brought to the attention of the secret service by a member of the uni formed division whose officers guard the executive mansion. Fitzwater would not say what drug Shad been involved. The Post however quoted an unnamed source As saying that a trans action involving cocaine had taken place on White House grounds. Fitzwater said thursday there was no evidence to substantiate the Story. Fitzwater said White House employees will be Given 60 Days notice of the mandatory random drug testing. The tests will be conducted six times a year with each round involving about 2 per cent of the 1,600 employees of the presi Dent s executive office. Included Are employees of the office of management and budget the nation Al Security Council and the office of the vice president and first lady. The spokesman said that the secret service will begin a program of pre Era ploy ment drug testing on july 13. We have been advised that drug were not used or sold on the White House premises and there was no breach of Security he said. However Fitzwater said the investigation by the . Attorney s office secret service and Dea was continuing. Names of the five employees were no released. Evidence in the investigation has been turned Over to the . Attorney s office secret service spokesman Robert Snow said wednesday. No arrests have been made Snow said. These Are Only administrative actions at this