European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 1, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 5opinion sought on insurance Protection from wire reports Washington a in a Texas Case that could affect millions of americans insured through their employers the supreme court asked the Bush administration monday for its views on whether Federal Law protects aids sufferers whose coverage is slashed by Cost conscious companies. The justices asked the . Solicitor general for the government s position on whether an employer has an unfettered right to change the terms of its group medical insurance including the ability to Stop coverage for a particular disease or injury. The Case Greenberg executor is. A amp a music co., involves a Houston worker who Learned he had aids in 1987 a five years after he began his Job in a music store. John Mcgann told his employers the a amp a music co., about his illness and submitted his claims for reimbursement for medical expenses under the company a group insurance plan. The coverage then provided for medical expenses of up to $1 million Over the lifetime of an employee. The following year the firm changed to a self insurance plan that limited payment for aids related medical expenses to $5,000 Over the lifetime of the employee. Under Federal Law self insured employers Are not covered by state insurance regulations. Thus the Case centers on whether Mcgann should have been protected by the Federal employee retirement income Security act of 1974. Mcgann a lawsuit has been dismissed by both a Federal District judge and an appeals court in Texas. They both said that the Law gives employers the right to design their own Benefit plans and that the company supreme court never promised employees would always have the $1 million in lifetime coverage. Mcgann died last year at the age of 47. His Case is being pressed by the executor of his estate. Those rulings in a Texas Case potentially affect millions of american workers not just those with aids. It will Likely be several months before the solicitor general replies with an opinion on whether the supreme court should hear the Case. In asking the supreme court to take the Case Gay rights advocates have warned that the appeals court ruling a threatens health care for millions of insured workers if companies find they can use the Federal Law As a loophole to escape covering catastrophic illnesses. The justices Are not expected to say whether they will review the lower court rulings until they receive the governments response. In other action monday the court a heard arguments in a new York Case Over Congress Power to Force states to dispose of Low level waste generated within their Borders and several justices voiced doubts about that Power. A decision is expected by july. A left intact a ruling that forces two former Illinois prison officials to pay $5,000 to each of two inmates left in freezing cells for four Days in 1982. A agreed to consider overturning a $6.2 million award won by a company that a California jury said was victimized by an illegal scheme to monopolize sales of a Shock absorbing insole for athletic shoes. A granted the Bush administrations request to participate in Oral arguments april 22 in a key abortion Case from Pennsylvania. The administration was granted 10 minutes to defend the states restrictions on abortion. Activists on both sides of the abortion debate have said they expect the court to use the Pennsylvania Case to undermine if not overturn its 1973 decision legalizing abortion nationwide. In the stars and stripes 10years ago april 1,1982-theu.s. Supreme court upheld agreements giving preferences to local foreign workers seeking jobs at . Military bases in 17 countries overseas. 20years ago april 1,1972 a president Nixon blocked for 60 Days the threat of strikes in two Railroad labor disputes by appointing emergency boards under the National railway labor act.30 year Sago april 1,1962 a president Kennedy appointed Deputy attorney general Byron r. White 44, As an associate Justice of the supreme court. In addition to being a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a Rhodes scholar White was a collegiate All America football player in 1937 and later starred As a running Back for two professional football teams the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh steel ers. White also served with Kennedy in the Navy during world War ii.40 years ago april 1,1952 a the Senate voted extra combat pay of $45 a month for All service members who fought in Korea. The retroactive Bonus would also go to survivors of casualties and men who were wounded or hospitalized in Korea. A. To world War 50 years ago today 1 april1 a 9 �4 2 japanese forces resume Strong attacks on the . Defenders on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. The japanese land unopposed at several spots in dutch new Guinea. In Burma chinese troops Retreat from Tou goo and the British at prime Are heavily attacked the United states begins a partial Convoy system off the Atlantic coast As a result of heavy losses to German a boats costly Trafon alleged molestation at Little rascals Center goes to jury Farmville . A a jury on monday began weighing evidence from 143 witnesses to determine if a former Day care Center operator molested 12 children in his Small town preschool. Robert f. Kelly jr., who owned the now closed Little rascals Day care Center with his wife Elizabeth is charged with 100 counts of sexual abuse. He could get 40 life terms plus 600 years in prison if convicted on All charges. The trial has Cost North Carolina More than $1 million and is described As the states longest and costliest criminal prosecution. It is sometimes compared to californians Mcmartin pre school molestation Case which stretched Over seven years and Cost More than $13.5 million. In the end no one was convicted in what was the nations longest and most expensive criminal trial. Since August jurors have heard testimony from 143 witnesses including eight boys and four girls who recounted tales of abuse at the preschool in Edenton 120 Miles East of Raleigh. Jurors began deliberating monday morning. A this Case is hardly Ordinary so i have asked each of you to sign the verdict a judge d. Marsh Mclelland told the seven Man five woman jury. A you should let your verdict speak the truth As you Are Able to determine  after a half an hour of deliberation jurors re turned to. Ask Mclelland for water pitchers a chalkboard note pads Kelly and a list of exhibits. They had not been allowed to take notes As they listened to witnesses. The jury ended deliberations for the be jury at 5  Rule a Kelly said after the jury was Given its instructions Friday. A i can to read their  he acknowledged his nervousness As he entered the courtroom monday. A would no to you be. Id probably lose All my hair if i Dweller on it a said Jelly who is partially Bald. The children said that Kelly made them have Oral and anal sex that he photographed some of them having sex and that be had sex with other adults in front of them. The alleged molestations took place from 1986 to 1989, when the children were 2 to 7. Prosecutors said they found no pictures. Kelly a former Golf pro was first arrested april 14, 1989. Testimony in the Day at 6 . The trial was moved from Edenton to Farmville 85 Miles away because of pretrial publicity. Defense lawyers argued that Kelly was a victim of Small town hysteria and that anxious parents badgered others into making false accusations after rumours circulated m the town of 5,800. Kelly has been jailed since june 1989 in lieu of $1.5 million bail. A i done to know what they re going to Case began aug. 19, 1991, after three weeks of jury selection. The prosecution rested dec. 10 and after a Holiday recess the defense began its Case Jan. 8. Parents testified that their children exhibited abnormal behaviour such As fear of going into bathrooms masturbating in front of adults and experiencing nightmares. Elizabeth Kelly and five others including three who worked at the Center face separate trials on sexual abuse charges. Library Hopes to Shelve theft of books source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith a it publishers inc. World almanac Book of world Nat ii Bison books corp1981 by the Washington Post Washington the Library of Congress took the unprecedented step monday of putting its general books collection off limits to All except staff members who work in each subsection. The move occurred in the Wake of revelations that the Library is losing dramatic amounts of material to thievery. A this is another one of the measures taken by the Library in its plan to increase Security a spokeswoman Nancy Bush said. A researchers who came to the Library today seemed to understand and did no to  previously certain scholars had been granted stack passes that permitted them direct Access to the bookshelves. Most Library patrons receive their books in 22 Reading rooms. Meanwhile Maryland attorney Barry m. Goldman was sentenced monday to six months in a Community correctional Center for stealing $200,000 Worth of documents from the Library. He was also sentenced to two years probation to run concurrently with the correctional Center sentence. . Attorney Jay b. Stephens said he was disappointed in the sentence. A the historical documents in the Library of Congress Are part of the heritage of All americans. Those who engage in their theft and destruction must be held accountable. We had sought a More severe sentence a Stephens said. Sentencing guidelines in the Case had called for a prison term of 12 to 18 months. Saying his client was a reformed Man and had already suffered much Goldman a lawyer Barry Levine argued for leniency. Goldman 36, is in the process of a divorce has lost his $77,000-a-year Job As a government attorney and is expected to lose his License to practice Law. Levine said his client was driven to steal by severe personality disorders that were now under professional treatment. . District judge Joyce hens Green did not find the assertion of Reform relevant but did find some Merit in the argument that Goldman so severe character neurosis led to an inability to control criminal behaviour a although she pointed out he still knew what he was doing and that it was wrong and illegal. The net result was both a Shorter sentence and permission to serve it in a Halfway House. When arrested last june at the Library Goldman had 10 documents in his pocket Worth $33,000. Among the material he stole Over a period of a year from the Library a manuscript division were signed documents and letters from presidents Kennedy Lincoln Jefferson Truman John Quincy Adams and Franklin d. Roosevelt As Well As civil War material relating to Confederate Gen. Robert e. Lee and statesman Sam Houston. Goldman sold some of the items and kept others All were recovered by the government. In a shaking nearly inaudible voice Goldman told the judge a a in a sorry a and described his a shame and anguish and horror at what in be  it was contended in court that his descent into criminal activity began in late 1989, when he was told by his Law firm that he would not be made a partner