Vermont man's suit against Dunkin' Donuts is tossed
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A federal judge has thrown out a Vermont man's lawsuit that alleged Dunkin' Donuts knowingly set up his Rhode Island franchises to fail. Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux ruled in mid-trial this week that Irwin Barkan of Waitsfield, Vt., had not proven that Dunkin' Donuts engaged in fraud or breached its contract with him. He called Barkan's allegations of fraud ``a red herring.'' The judge found there was no evidence the Canton, Mass.-based coffee shop chain contributed to Barkan's financial losses. Barkan was seeking $13 million. The suit stemmed from Barkan's 2002 purchase of four underperforming Dunkin' Donuts shops in Providence. Barkan told The Providence Journal he's disappointed with the ruling and plans an appeal.
Oracle co-president admits affair with billboard woman
SAN FRANCISCO - A co-president of software maker Oracle acknowledges he had an affair with a woman he was shown snuggling with on billboards in New York, Atlanta and San Francisco. Charles Phillips released a statement Thursday about his relationship with YaVaughnie Wilkins after blogs went abuzz over the mysterious billboards. The statement says he had an ``8« year serious relationship'' with Wilkins but it has ended, and his divorce proceedings began in 2008.
Most union members now work for the government
WASHINGTON - A majority of union members now work for the government, partly because massive layoffs in the recession plunged the private sector's union levels to a record low. Local, state and government workers make up 51.5 percent of all union members Á becoming the majority of organized labor for the first time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday. Private sector union membership plummeted by 10 percent last year, while government unions posted slight gains. Overall, union membership declined by 771,000 workers, to 15.3 million. That's 12.3 percent among all workers, dropping from 12.4 percent in 2008. Government unions gained 64,000 members.
Hershey backs off interest in Cadbury, at least for now
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Candy maker Hershey said yesterday it has no immediate plans to make an offer for British competitor Cadbury, making it all but certain that Kraft Foods Inc.'s $19.5 billion bid will proceed unchallenged. The Hershey Co., America's most recognizable name in chocolate, did leave itself room to reconsider within six months if circumstances surrounding the acquisition change significantly. Hershey's statement seemed to confirm what analysts widely believed Á that the fattened offer Kraft made Tuesday put a winning bid for Cadbury PLC out of Hershey's reach.
