University Daily Kansan / Tuesday. December 6. 1988
7
Nation/World
Court to decide on excessive punitive-damage judgments
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court announced yesterday it once again will study the constitutionality of multimillion-dollar punitive-damage awards, a growing phenomenon and one of the most marked legislative debate nationwide.
The Associated Press
The justices agreed to decide whether such awards that far exceed actual damages violate a constitutional ban on excessive fines. At stake are large sums of money awarded in a wide variety of lawsuits.
The court, which failed in the past to resolve the question, will tackle
the issue in an appeal by a Texas-based waste collection business ordered to pay $6 million to a Verizon lawsuit. Justices are likely to rule by July.
The high court last May declined to decide the constitutionality of very large punitive-damage awards when it uphold on narrow, procedural grounds against an insurance company that wrongfully rejoiced a $20,000 claim
Left unresolved was the legitimacy of skyrocketing punitive damage awards a development that has been criticized. Activity often, called "tort reform",
Economists predict '89 problems
WASHINGTON — President-elect George Bush will be forced to deal with a dramatic slowdown in economic activity next year that will make his job difficult. The president's top business economists predicted yesterday.
The Associated Press
An overwhelming majority of the economists, 88 percent, predicted that Bush would have to deal with a recession in his first two years in office. Forty percent forecast that the country would be in
The National Association of Business Economists said a survey of 200 of its members found them pessimistic about growth prospects because of a belief that inflationary pressures will mean higher interest rates and thus lower consumer spending for cars, houses and other big ticket items.
a downturn by this time next year.
The outlook is far more pessimistic than the official forecast upon which the Reagan administration is basing its final budget request to Congress. That assessment is calling for much faster growth, lower interest rates and falling inflation next year.
If the business economists prove to be more accurate, it will mean Bush will have to come up with even sharper spending cuts if he is to keep to the goal of reducing the budget deficit without higher taxes.
Jay Woodworth, senior economist at Bankers Trust Co. of New York and president of the association, said the business economists believed Bush should make reducing the deficit his No. 1 priority.
A credible, multi-year deficit-reduction plan "would remove one major risk overhanging the financial markets, threatening to send the dollar lower and interest rates far, far higher." Wood-worth said at a briefing for reporters.
Many of the economists surveyed were skeptical of Bush's "flexible freeze" to cut the deficit by simply holding overall spending growth to the level of inflation.
The overwelcoming majority said a credible deficit-cutting package will have to include both spending cuts and revenue hikes, something Bush has vowed to avoid.
The Reagan administration, using far more optimistic economic assumptions, is projecting a federal deficit of $135 billion in the fiscal year that begins next October.
Steinberg wants insanity plea
NEW YORK — Joel Steinberg, apparently reeling from damaging testimony by his former lover about the violence that marked their lives, sought yesterday to switch his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of the 6-year-old girl they raised.
The Associated Press
The surprise request was tentatively denied, but the judge said Steinberg's attorneys could resubmit it. The request followed Hedda Nussbaum's emotional testimony last week about Lisa Steinberg's final
Nussbaum said Steinberg admitted to her that he had "knocked Lisa down" because the child was staring at him.
hours.
In two days of searing testimony last week, Nussbaum said Lisa had gone into Steinberg's bedroom to speak to him the night she was injured. Nussbaum said Steinberg emerged with the girl's limb body, handed it to Nussbaum and said, "Relax — go with her. Stay in harmony with her." He then left to go out to dinner. Nussbaum said.
News Roundup
FIREFIGHTERS WANT INVESTIGATIONS: The chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and representatives of the nation's firefighters called yesterday for investigations of the Nov. 29 fire and explosion in Kansas City, Mo., that killed six firemen.
NURSE'S AIDES ARRAIGNED: Two former nurse's aides were arraigned on murder
13 NAVY DOLPHINS DIED: Thirteen dolphins trained for a secret Navy program have died in the last two years, rather than the four disclosed by trainers last month, according to government records cited by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Nearly half the dolphins had a lack of appetite or stomach ulcers. Other causes included hepatitis and pneumonia.
charges yesterday in the death of patients at a nursing home in Walker, Michigan, where eight people died suspiciously, authorities said. Police are investigating reports that some victims had been suffocated.
KREMLIN ATTEMPTS TO IMPOSE ORDER:
The Kremlin yesterday threatened to fire and prosecute any Communist Party official or economic manager who dismissed workers for ethnic reasons in the tense republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The directive was another step in the Kremlin's effort to impose order on the republics.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT RECEIVES AWARD:
Ulrike "Uli" Derickson, the TWA flight attendant who protected U.S. passengers and passengers with Jewish sounding names from Arab gunmen during a 1985 hijacking, has been chosen to receive the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, which is the Navy's highest civilian award, the service said yesterday.
U. N. ADOPTES RESOLUTIONS DEPLORING APARTHEID: The U.N. General Assembly yesterday adopted a package of resolutions deploring South Africa's apartheid system, and noted that Japan is the leading trading partner of the minority white-rated nation. One resolution urges Japan to join Western countries for criticism because of their continued trade and collaboration with South Africa. The General Assembly passes similar anti-apartheid resolutions every year.
KU BOOKSTORES' Holiday Specials
Gift Wrapping
Purchase any item for $10.00 or over and receive free gift wrapping. All items purchased for under $10.00 entitle you to a free gift box or these items will be wrapped for a $1.00 charge.Bring in your gifts purchased elsewhere and let us wrap it for a $1.25 charge. (Kansas Union store only for this service) Some items may be wrapped with a special holiday bag at the discretion of the store.
Jayhawk Jewelry
Gifts for the Jayhawk fan with style! 14kt. Yellow Gold Jayhawk Dangle Earrings. Regular Price $6.95, Sale Price $5.50. Handcrafted Sterling Silver Jayhawk Keepsake for chain or bracelet. Regular Price $12.50, Sale Price $9.95. Pewterware at 20% off the regular price including our new Printer-Box Jayhawks. All jewelry while supplies last.
Purchase any Macintosh Computer at our Burge Union Store and receive a cuddly Teddy Bear Free! Sorry, Macintosh sales to full-time faculty, students and staff only
Macintosh Special
Holiday Card Special
Purchase any individual holiday card and receive one free 25 cent postage stamp. Purchase any boxed set of holiday cards and receive 4 free 25 cent stamps. Limit 4 stamps per visit.
Pick up a cassette or two from our special selection for stocking stuffers. To get you in the holiday mood check out our Holiday Music!
Textbook Buyback Begins Next Week
Sell your used books to us at either location...The gallery on level four of the Kansas Union or at our Burge Union Store. Come in between December 12th and the 23rd for the best prices possible. You'll also receive a coupon to help you with your holiday shopping. Buyback hours are Monday-Friday 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m. Saturday 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m., Sunday Noon-3:00
(Sunday Kansas Union Location Only)
For only $15.95
ArtCarved College Ring Sale
Musical Teddy
Get your 1989 calendars NOW! Check the large selection at both the Kansas and Burge Unions
Visit our Kansas Union Store and speak to Marty about the great prices on the popular ArtCarved College Rings. Marty will be here December 7th-9th from 10:a.m. to 4p.m.
You'll love those cute cuddly Teddy Bears with the KU shirt, jeans, stocking cap and a bright red nose. This isn't your average Polar Bear. He'll help anyone get into the holiday spirit with 18 different Christmas Tunes. ___
Film Processing Special
Bring in any of your C-41 color print film and receive free developing and only a 10 cent charge per print. That's only $3.60 for a 36 exposure roll. Sale ends December 9,1988.
Don's Automotive Center Inc.
Import Car & Truck Specialists
Machine Shop Service Available
841-4833
MasterCard
1008 E. 12th
VISA
-Gift Certificates-
The perfect gift for
the holiday season!
Available for any amount.
Louisiana Purchase
Shopping Center
843-5500
SOLID FOE
SOLID ROPE
14 kt CHAINI
Flat,Diamond Cut,
and Regular...
Starting at $45.00
The Gift Guaranteed
To Fit Everyone
On Your List.
King
Cummings
800 Mass. 749-4333
Forevermore on Santa's list
7:10, 9:40
Varsity 1015 Mass.
843-1065
Granada 1020 Mass.
843-5788
COCOON (PG)
NAKED GUN (PG13) 7:20,9:30
Hillcrest 9th & Iowa
842-8400
BIRD (R) 5.00,8.00
MYSTIC PIZZA (R) 4:50, 7:15, 9:25
MUSIC HEROES (80)
EVERYBODY'S
ALL AMERICAN (80)
HIGH SPIRES
(PG-13)
*4.55, 7.20, 9.40
*4.54, 7.25, 9.35
CRY IN THE DARK (PG13) *4:40, 7:20, 9:20
Cinema Twin 31st & Iowa 842-6400
LAND BEFORE TIME (G) *5.00, 7.00, 8.45*
CHILD'S PLAY (R) *4.30, 7.10, 9.20*