European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Be found guilty of Dod fraud sunday february 4, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 3 West German mayor asks Bush to abolish . Post in Erlanger by Effie Bathen nil Rybern Bureau ass hexi Barrari Dietmar Hahlweg mayor of Erlanger West Germany says his request that the United states withdraw soldiers from his City docs not reflect anti americanism Ife wants the 320-acre Ferris Barracks for focal housing and Industry. Krlan Gen Wisl Germany a the mayor of this City near Nurnberg has written to president Bush asking that when american soldiers arc withdrawn from Central Europe the ones in his town go first. Dict mar Hahlweg wrote to Bush asking for the Quot abolition of Ferris Barracks Home to about 3,000 american soldiers and 3.500 family members. He cited Quot unbearable inconveniences for the Erlanger  in his Jan. 24 letter Hahlweg complained of noise air pollution and tank transports through Ocsid Mial areas. Erlanger a City of 100,700, is located 10 Miles North of Nurnberg. Out he said to an interview late Friday that his request Quot has nothing to do with feelings against America and its people. It has nothing to do with a Campaign a Ami go Home Quot he simply thinks the 320-Aere Post the Headquarters of the 1st army div s 2nd brigade should he  to meet the City s More pressing needs. A a we need the area desperately for new housing areas because we have a very big housing problem and we need the area for the expansion of our Industry and our University Quot he said. Hahlweg would like to see the area used Quot half for residential a Quarter for the University and a Quarter for the  he estimates the area could hold housing for 5,000 to 7,000 people. Siemens the major electronic corporation employs 30,000 people at its Erlanger location. Half of them mostly professionals and technicians live in Erlanger. Quot the City already lost activities of Siemens because we could not help with additional room Quot Hahlweg said. When the corporation needed to expand it went elsewhere. Hahlweg said he does not want to appear ungrateful to the americans. On the contrary he said Quot in a very thankful that the United slates together with the other nato countries made peace us  now though with the lessening threat from the East Hahlweg said he must address the urgent concerns of his City. In his three Page letter to Bush Hahlweg said Quot i am requesting that priority May be Given to the Erlanger site when projects of transferring . Troops or or re stationing them in the states Are discussed in order to Stop the unbearable inconveniences for the Erlanger population As soon As  Hahlweg a former Fulbri fit scholar said he Learned about lobbying during frequent visits to the United states to attend seminars for mayors. Quot i m now trying to find out where 1 could do further lobbying in Washington. For instance. And to find out who underneath the president makes the decision for this Quot he said. A during my stay in the . I heard that it s not unusual in the United Stales to write to the president to write to the governor. In a convinced that they do not take the letter and drop it in a wastebasket could Cost Calif Over $ 1 billion Philadelphia apr a 2 i month trial has ended in guilty verdicts for general electric co. And two employees accused or bilking inc government of s10 million on a Battlefield computer system Friday s verdict raised the possibility thai be could be suspended from new Pentagon business a step the government often takes against contractors accused of wrongdoing the jury found be. The nations second largest defense contractor guilty of four counts of mail fraud and 282 counts or making false claims. It was acquitted of one mail fraud count and 30 other counts of false claims. Gerald a Leo. Former materials manager of be subsidiary management and technical services co. Was convicted or four counts of mail fraud and one count of trying to deceive Federal investigators. James Badolato. The subsidiary a former subcontracts manager was convicted of one count of obstructing Justice and one count of trying to deceive investigators. Leo. 52. Faces up to 25 years in prison and a $1 Molion Fine. Badolato 43, laces up to Loy cars in prison and a$500,000fine. Both men now work in other be departments. Both workers were acquitted on separate mail fraud and racketeering charges. . District judge Lowell a. Reed or. Allowed Leo and Badolato to remain free on bail until their sentencing april 10. All Orneys Tor be and Badolato said they would Appeal. An attorney for Leo declined to comment on an Appeal. The ease involved a $250 million contract to Supply the army with an updated version of its decentralized Auto Naiad service support system computer known As Das-3. Prosecutors said Leo and Badolato a with the tacit consent of be officials a padded costs and failed to notify the Pentagon of savings negotiated with subcontractors. Be faces a Fine of about $50 million and must pay prosecution costs. Assistant . Attorney David Howard said. Moreover the government has filed a $23 million civil suit against be. That suit allege overcharges and seeks damages. Be. In a statement from its Fairfield. Conn. Headquarters said its subsidiary had been ready since 1935 to Settle the civil Case. The indictments were issued in november 1988. Assistant . Attorney Nicholas Harbist said the verdict Quot sends a message thai once a company engages in this kind of conduct merely opening up their Wallet tsn�?~1  but be said the verdict a stretches the theory of a vicarious corporate liability beyond reasonable  used car ruling by the Las Angeles times Sacramento. Calif. A a 12-Ycar-old dispute Over the registration of a 1936 classic car could end up costing California taxpayers Well Over $1 billion state officials said Friday after a court ruling that the department of motor vehicles must pay refunds to 17 million used car owners. The ruling wednesday by the 2nd District court of Appeal in los Angeles upheld a lower coun verdict in favor of Glendale attorney Patrick Woosley the owner of a 1936 Auburn speedster lawyers for the slate said they May ask the court of Appeal of review its decision and will file an Appeal with the California supreme court. No refunds will be made until All appeals arc exhausted which could take a year state lawyers said. Woosley filed a lawsuit in 1978 after being hit with what he considered in Lair and discriminatory motor i it hide taxes and fees when he purchased the Auburn in 1976. He contended that because his Auburn had an out of state registration when he bought it. He was forced to pay a use tax of $ 1,500. The use tax. Comparable to the state s 6 percent sales tax was based on the Auburn a $25, Purchase Price. But had Woosley bought the car in California the tax would have been Only $6. On lop of the $ 1,500 use tax the div rubbed More Salt in the wound by requiring Woosley to pay a motor vehicle registration fee of s427. The fee would have been $2 had he bought the same car in California. In ruling that the lopsided lax levies were unfair the appellate court found that the div was wrong in charging taxes based Ort the last Selling Price of out of state vehicles. Instead the state Agency should have followed its formula for in state cars based on depreciated value of the original Price the court said. The Auburn first sold in 1936 for $2,245. Attorneys Sliu pressed 1lu Elass action suit which represents a motorists who Bough used curs Irons private parties since 1974. Are in line to receive $13.7 million in court ordered fees from the state. Woosley himself is to receive a $1 million fee if he ultimately wins his Case but he contends that is too Low and is seeking a higher amount. And that is just the beginning. At i he time of the initial ruling in Woosleyy a favor in 1985, it was estimated that purchasers of used ears since 1974 were due a collective $875 million in refunds. But Woosley estimates that the refunds now could total at least $1.4 billion. He says that is because used car transactions since 1985 now must be factored into the judgment along with interest on the original judgment. Speculating in the potential costs to the state Cynthia kut7. Assistant director of the state department of finance said stale officials were estimating Quot any where from $575 million to s3  a we just Don t know How much it could Cost Al this Point Quot Katz said. She said there is no Money set aside fur the refund. Any payments would probably have to he appropriated by the legislature from general purpose tax revenues. Kali said