August 27, 2002

Circuit Court Judge William J Giovan has dismissed sexual harassment lawsuit against Ford Motor Co because plaintiff Justine Maldonado and her lawyers had discussed with reporters evidence that court deemed inadmissable, even though much of information was made matter of public record; Giovan says Maldonado and her lawyer disseminated information about defendant Daniel P Bennett's previous conviction in attempt to prejudice potential jurors, and in violation of Michigan laws; Maldonado plans to appeal (M)

Jennifer Dunning reviews Zaccho Dance Theater performance; photo (M)

Employers and Congressional leaders, concerned that millions of workers are losing their health insurance coverage at time when health costs are surging, say next great health care debate will be over how to help uninsured; Sen John B Breaux and leaders of nation's largest pension plans are trying to drum up support for universal health insurance, proposal that has received little attention, except from labor unions and liberals, since collapse of Clintons' health plan; House Republican leaders--House Speaker J Dennis Hastert and Rep Dick Armey--have been working on package of less sweeping measures, including tax credits for uninsured, in hopes of defusing issue before Congressional elections this fall; Kate Sullivan, health policy director of US Chamber of Commerce, predicts that issue will heat up next month when Census Bureau announces number of uninsured last year, which may climb above 40 million--from 38.4 million in 2000--and when Kaiser Family Foundation reports latest double-digit increases in health costs; graph (M)

Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted more money since June than in previous nine months to those affected by 9/11; agency has eased its eligibility criteria to include more New Yorkers, not just residents of Lower Manhattan; critics say rules are still arbitrary and too onerous on low-income workers, who may have trouble getting required documents; there are concerns that thousands of people who tried to get relief and failed may have lost trust in process and will not consider trying again even if restrictions are eased; photo; chart compares amount given over two discrete time periods, before and after easing of requirements (M)

Some potential suitors for Hershey Foods appear to be balking at company's high asking price and controversy surrounding auction; Cadbury Schweppes has already told Hershey that it will probably not submit offer; Nestle and Kraft Foods are wavering about whether they can afford to meet Hershey's asking price, more than $11 billion, without significantly diluting their earnings; some board members of trust that controls Hershey are reconsidering auction; without lucrative sale price, some board members have begun privately discussing possibly ending auction and buying back stock instead; Pfizer Inc plans to put its Adams confectionary unit up for sale, hoping to receive bids from many of potential buyers of Hershey; Adams could bring $4 billion or more, so some suitors are considering whether to bid for Hershey now or wait to try to buy Adams; Pfizer had hoped to begin its auction this summer but decided to wait until after Hershey completes its sale; photos (Market Place column) (M)

Economic downturn that brought decade of roaring growth in Poland to abrupt halt; it afflicts local and foreign-owned companies, but it is most acute for small-business people; there is gnawing perception among Polish entrepreneurs that country's banks, great majority of them bought by foreign companies in last decade, favor foreign-owned ventures over Polish ones; Krzysztof Olszewski, owner of bus manufacturer Solaris, comments on financial problems of entrepreneurs and small businesses; photo (M)

Footlights column: Lifebeat, which sponsors AIDS education and outreach programs, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with benefit concert; Denver Art Museum announces plan for new $62.5 million wing designed by Daniel Libeskind; Indianapolis Museum of Art announces plan for $74 million building expansion; Iraqi culture ministry says country has retrieved 1,000 archaeological pieces from Britain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other countries stolen during Gulf war; exhibition of found-object sculptures based on fruit and vegetables by Brooklyn-based artist Jeff Sundheim opens in window of Gourmet Garage in SoHo; Washington's Shakespeare Theater will open season with Michael Kahn production of The Winter's Tale; Arena Stage will begin previews of Anthems, new commission by Latino theater group Culture Clash, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright; photos (M)

Tens of thousands of officials, environmentalists and advocates for the poor converged in Johannesburg for the United Nations' World Summit on Sustainable Development to devise an ambitious blueprint to promote development while protecting natural resources. They vowed to hammer out a plan to clean polluted air and to help people escape from poverty.

Article on debate over modifications to already existing natural gas plants, coal-fired stations and industrial plants that do not produce electricity that could trigger rules requiring them to meet emission standards for new plants; some plant operators say they are discouraged from making incremental improvements but some advocates of New Source Review rules say operators have learned to make small changes in such a way as to sidestep law's requirements; describes how Florida Power and Light and JEA, municipal utility, are rebuilding older oil and natural gas plant to be among cleanest coal plants in world; diagrams; photo (M)

Computer Company Board Is Tripped Up on Disclosure Richard A. Grasso, left, the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange and a leader in setting the tone for corporate America, did not disclose ownership of deferred stock as a director of Computer Associates. The company said it was at fault because it had changed its ruling after initially determining that stock compensation for Mr. Grasso and four other directors did not need to be disclosed. The reporting issue comes at a time when investors have had their confidence in corporations damaged by accounting scandals and corporate corruption. [Page C4.]

Interview with former Marine Lieutenant Col Oliver North, who comments on his new novel, Mission Compromised, co-written by Joe Musser, first in trilogy of thrillers; photo (M) (M)

Mood of grief and dread permeates burial site in Oregon City, Ore, as relatives of missing teenagers Miranda Gaddis view place where her remains were unearthed and as authorities confirm that second body recovered was that of friend Ashley Pond; search continues in backyard of home rented by Ward Francis Weaver III, chief suspect in Gaddis's death and Pond's disappearance; Pond and Gaddis, missing since January and March, respectively, lived in apartment complex near Weaver home and were friends of his 13-year-old daughter; Weaver, whose father is on death row for murdering young couple and burying one victim in backyard, has been jailed for allegedly raping son's 19-year-old girlfriend; photos (M)