December 14, 2003

New study shows that lawsuits and prosecutions often do not result in trials; finds that 11.5 percent of all civil cases in federal court went to trial in 1972, and that number dropped to 1.8 percent by 2002; notes that even though there are five times as many lawsuits today, raw number of civil trials has dropped; they peaked in 1985 at 12,529; 4,569 cases were tried in federal court in 2002; percentage of federal criminal prosecutions also declined, to less than 5 percent in 2002 from 15 percent in 1962; number of criminal trials fell, to 3,574 in 2002 year from 5,097 in 1962; graphs (L)

Market Watch column on post-employment health plans, many of which are underfunded; notes funding for plans of several companies studied is at 13.2 percent, while pension obligations at these companies are 65.6 percent funded (M)

New York Yankees trade Jeff Weaver, Yhency Brazoban and player to be named later to Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Kevin Brown; reportedly are close to signing free agent outfielder Gary Sheffield (M)

A Baghdad Neighborhood, Once Hopeful, Now Reels In Ghazalia, a typical section of Baghdad, people are at the end of their patience, worn down by hardships of daily life, and bitterness at the occupation is festering. PAGE 22 Family Tie to Thurmond? A 78-year-old woman says she is the daughter of the late Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and a black maid. PAGE 41

Memphis Grizzlies defeat New Jersey Nets, 110-63; photo (M)