European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 Quot the stars and stripes Friday january 4, 1991 swans not bothered by the flooding take a leisurely swim along Birchwood Lane in Aroma Park Iii. Floods in Indiana and Ohio Chase thousands from Homes a a. A a a a a v a. A a 5. A a a a a. A antitrust suit filed against 3 makers of infant formula Tallahassee Fla. Up the nations top three makers of infant formula illegally conspired to drive up prices and  Matulac Turcus out of the Industry Florida a attorney general charged in an antitrust suit thursday. \ a a attorney general Bob Butterworth filed a civil complaint in Tallahassee Federal court against Abbott laboratories of Abbott Park 111., and american Home products corp. And Bristol Myers Squibb co., both of new York. A the three companies together control 95 percent of the infant formula rear act Butterworth said. He charged that they violated state and Federal anti Trust Laws by conspiring to fix wholesale prices and by using a marketing scheme intended to discourage others from entering the infant formula Market. A a Phis conspiracy ultimately exploits Young mothers who often have no Choice in whether or not to buy infant formula a Butterworth said. Instead of advertising the formula directly to Consumers the three companies persuaded hospitals and doctors to endorse it to their patients lie said. The endorsements were obtained by giving doctors and hospitals free samples Cash and research Grants and free feeding systems the complaint said. Under that marketing system the wholesale Price of infant formula sold by the companies Rose an average of 155.4 percent Between december 1979 and december 1989, Butterworth said. By comparison the Price of milk Rose 36.4 percent and the Price of groceries Overall Rose 50.8 percent during the same period. Butterworth also alleged that Abbott and Bristol Myers rigged bids on contracts to provide formula under the Federal governments special supplemental food program for women infants and children or wic. He filed the suit on behalf of the state department of health and rehabilitative services which administers the wic program in Florida a spokesman for Bristol Myers could not be reached immediately. Spokesmen for the other two companies said they had not seen the complaint and therefore could not comment. Butterworth estimated 6 million cans of infant for run la Are sold each month in Florida 4 million to consume cars and 2 million to wic. He estimated the alleged overcharge at about $1 per can. A so with 4 million of those cans a month purchased directly by Consumers at full Price that a about $48 million a year. We re talking about the possibility of nearly $50 million a year in damages a a said Butterworth spokesman Joe Bizzaro. Butterworth asked the court to award triple the amount of damages determined by a jury and to impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation of state Law against each company Florida Law prohibits the attorney general from representing Consumers directly in antitrust actions to collect damages he must receive Assignee Jofs of potential claims from retailers that sold the product. Three companies that bought for Pula for resale agreed to assign their potential damage awards to the state. The companies Are Winn Dixie stores inc. Of Jacksonville Public super markets inc. Of Lakeland and toys r us inc. Of new York. A any damages they would be entitled to would be signed Over to the state a Bizzaro Saidu the poetic Justice would be that Terai Money would be used to Benefit children in Florida though we can t say yet specifically  by the associated press Hood water flowing southward through Indiana breached two levees and threatened several More chasing hundreds of people from their Homes. Surging currents disrupted Barge traffic on the Ohio River. In Cincinnati the Ohio River crested thursday at 5 feet above flood stage its highest level since 1969, and waiter covered streets in the East end neighbourhood. Authorities on wednesday closed a floodgate at riverfront stadium where the Cincinnati bengals meet the Houston oilers in a football playoff game sunday. Floodgates also were sealed across the River at Covington and Newport ky., shutting Access to floating restaurants and other riverfront businesses. The flooding began saturday from heavy weekend Rains combined with melting Snow. Flooding subsided in Northern and Central Indiana on wednesday but will threaten Southern portions of the state through Early next week officials said a one county gets out of it and another county gets the water a said Kelly Stemnock of the state Emer gency management Agency sections of dirt levees in Vigo and Daviess Conn ties failed wednesday despite efforts of volunteers who piled sandbags night and Day in freezing cold a it looks like we re fighting a losing Battle because its rising so rapidly we can to keep up a said Wayne , town clerk in Elnora in Daviess county. A a you la see water come popping up out of the Bottom of the levee As you  volunteers and about. 40 National guardsmen worked until 3 . Thursday placing 15,000 sandbags along the levee in Elnora. The River crested a Lew hours later. A a. Y a it looks like the sandbags held and they re out of the Woods a Sema spokesman Alden Taylor said thursday. _ the swelling White and Wabash Rivers threatened several More Southern Indiana levees already weak Ned by heavy flooding in May. The National weath or service said Rivers would Crest at Levels even higher than in May. Gov. Evan Bayh who has sought a presidential disaster declaration for 26 counties said he May make the request for 14 More. Since saturday about 1,200 Homes have been evacuated statewide affecting 3,000 people High water has wreaked havoc on Ohio River Barge traffic. Three barges carrying 14,000 tons of Coal each Sank at the Cannelton ind., lock and dam on tuesday after they went out of control in the fast  barges that went Over the dam without toppling were recovered and being towed downstream a. X. A. Upstream the Gallipolis lock and dam about 30 Miles Northeast of Huntington w.va., was. To. Reopen thursday after being closed since tuesday because of High water and currents said lock master Pat Worley.  tows had been stalled by the . A a a a a a on tuesday authorities found the body of an in Diana Van who had been nursing since leaving his wife in their flood stranded car on new years eve to get help. A Coroner said wednesday the Man died of exposure his wife was Safe. R a Boater in Greene county Indiana has been missing since tuesdays orning authorities said. Washington a a company that allegedly plotted to close plants and Lay off 3,000 factory workers so they  be eligible for pensions is agreeing to pay the workers a record $415 million it was announced thursday. The settlement agreed to by Continental can co. Of. Norwalk conn., ends an eight year Federal lawsuit filed by the United steel yorkers of America the Union said at a Washington news conference. Quot a Union lawyer said facts uncovered in the Case painted a an alarming picture of greed in corporate America and its Lack 4 regard for its  8-year suit on in a Brief statement Continental can a Parent company Peter Kiewiz soils tne7 of Omaha neb., noted that the alleged actions took place before its 1984 Purchase of the company. The $415. Million settlement is the largest payout Ever made to workers by a company for alleged violations under the employee retirement income Security act of 1974, the Federal Law governing workers pensions and benefits. The Case stemmed from a 1983 class action lawsuit filed by the United steelworkers in which the Union charged that the company had secretly plotted to Lay , workers and close plants to avoid hav ing to pay lucrative pensions to workers who had 20 years or More service. In All the company closed 33 plants. During the 1970s, the Union had negotiated contract with the company that gave workers hefty Benefit packages the most expensive of which took effect when workers had 20-years�?Tserv ice. A at thurs Day a news conference the Union said the company referred to its plan to shut Down operations As the Bell plan a which the Union said it later Learned was a reverse acid Nam meaning a let s limit employee Bene  the Union said that in some cares Laid Oil Woik Cis needed Only weeks or months  for the pensions which usually amounted to Between $300 and $600 per month. The package also carried a $300 to $400 monthly supplement until age 62, As Well As health and life insurance throughout retirement. The Union Maderise of a provision in the Federal pensions Law that prevents companies front discriminating against workers to keep them from gaining a pension. Quot Kiewitt a statement noted that the alleged actions took place i the 1970s, before that company s Purchase of the firm. Kiev it is a construction and mining com