February 22, 2001

Hotels are plunging into retail business, selling everything that guests might like during their stays, from mattresses to mustard, under their own private labels; see this as way to improve service, discourage theft and build brand recognition; hotel rooms, particularly at high end, are wonderful places to showcase products; photos (M)

Japan's trade balance in January dipped into negative territory for first time in four years, registering deficit of 95.3 billion yen ($824 million) for month; graph (S)

Legal information available on Web allows can reduce need for traditional law firms; clients save substantial sums by downloading generic contracts and paying lawyers to customize them, as opposed to lawyers drafting entire contracts; these developments may result in attorneys charging by the service instead of by the hour; growth of online resources could force lawyers to reduce fees; photos (M)

David Ling, architect, creates loft for himself in Manhattan with an office, two bodies of water, wood bridge and waterfall; photos (M)

State Workers Ruled Unable To Sue Under Disability Act The Supreme Court ruled that state employees cannot sue for damages for violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act, carving out a new area of immunity for the states from the reach of federal civil rights law. Beyond its immediate effect on state workers who are entitled under the law to reasonable accommodations for their disabilities, the decision was important for what it portends, both for other types of cases under the act and for other civil rights statutes. [Page A1.]