Attorney General Wins $173 Million Multistate Settlement From Computer Chip Manufacturers

Bill McCollum
Attorney General
News Release
June 24, 2010

Attorney General Announces $173 Million Multistate Settlement  With Computer Chip Manufacturers

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a
settlement has been reached in a longstanding antitrust case currently
pending in federal and state courts throughout the United States. The
settlement resolves allegations related to a nationwide conspiracy to fix
the price of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips between 1998 and
2002. Florida, with three other states, has led the investigation since
2004 and was one of the lead states in the settlement negotiations.

Defendants involved in the settlement announced today include Infineon
Technologies AG and Infineon Technologies North America Corp.; Elpida
Memory, Inc. and Elpida Memory (USA) Inc.; NEC Electronics America, Inc.,
presently known as Renesas Electronics America Inc.; Mosel Vitelic Corp.
and Mosel Vitelic, Inc.; Micron Technology, Inc. and Micron Semiconductor
Products, Inc.; and Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and Hynix Semiconductor
America Inc. The agreement, which must be approved by the federal district
court in California, calls for the payment of $173 million by the settling
companies over two years. The timing and amounts of any monetary
distribution to the states will be dependent upon the court's findings once
the settlement is filed with the court.

The settlement also provides for injunctive relief similar to previous
settlements reached with Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.; Samsung Electronics
Company, Ltd; Winbond Electronics Corporation and Winbond Electronics
Corporation America. The sum of all multistate settlements reached in this
case now total over $290 million, which may be the largest settlement ever
of an indirect purchaser antitrust case in the United States.

In July 2006, Florida and 33 other states sued several foreign and domestic
firms that manufacture DRAM chips as a result of their roles in the same
price-fixing scheme. The complaint alleged that the companies were able to
charge higher than competitive prices for DRAM chips as a result of the
scheme, artificially restrained supply, allocated the production and
markets for the chips among themselves and rigged bids for DRAM chip
contracts. The lawsuit sought millions of dollars in damages to private
citizens and governmental agencies that purchased DRAM chips and equipment
that contained the chips. Computer manufacturers affected by the DRAM
price-fixing conspiracy include Apple Computer, Inc., Compaq Computer
Corp., Dell, Inc., Gateway, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., and IBM. Florida
consumers and Florida public entities that purchased computers also
absorbed these overcharges.

The multistate lawsuit originated from an investigation that began in 2004,
following a federal criminal probe that exposed a scheme where DRAM
manufacturers profited at the expense of the consumers in the computer and
electronics industry. As part of the federal court case, Samsung, Hynix,
Infineon, Elpida and numerous individual employees pled guilty to federal
criminal price-fixing charges and paid more than $730 million in fines.

Progress Energy Agrees to Freeze Rate Increase For Florida Customers Until 2012

On May 10, 2010, it was announced by the Office of the Attorney General that Progress Energy of Florida has agreed to freeze rate cost for their Florida Customers.

Read the follow official news release to learn more.

----------------------------------

Bill McCollum
Attorney General

News Release

__________________________________________________________
Date of release: May 10, 2010

Attorney General, Public Counsel Reach Agreement with Progress Energy to
Freeze Rate Increases through 2012

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum and Public Counsel J.R.
Kelly today announced that they have reached a settlement with Progress
Energy Florida on behalf of Florida consumers which will freeze base rates
for Progress customers through 2012.

“As Floridians work to make ends meet in this challenging economy, Progress
customers will know, as a result of our agreement today, that they won’t
have to worry about skyrocketing utility bills,” said Attorney General
McCollum. “Eliminating the concern over rising costs of electricity over
the next few years will certainly be a relief for many.”

The agreement will also cap the repair costs that customers might have to
pay in the event of any catastrophic storms, while allowing Progress
immediate access to the funds necessary to make any emergency repairs.
Under the agreement, each of the settling parties has the right to petition
for interim rate relief if Progress’ profitability falls outside of certain
financial benchmarks.

“We believe this is a great deal for ratepayers because they get the
certainty of knowing their base rates will be frozen for three years in the
midst of tough economic times,” said Public Counsel J.R. Kelly.

The Florida Retail Federation, Florida Industrial Power Users Group, White
Springs Agricultural Chemicals, Inc., and the Department of the Navy on
behalf of the Federal Executive Agencies were also parties to the settlement agreement, which was filed with the Public Service Commission(PSC) today.

The agreement is subject to approval by the PSC. A copy of the agreement is
available online at:

http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-85BJ9M/$file/JointMotion.pdf

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With today's economic difficulties, it is good to be well informed. So, if you have an unexpected increase in the cost of your power, and someone tells you that there been a recent rate increase refer them to this article.

The Eighth Deadly Sin and The Quickest Way to End a Relationship

Beware of persons who tell creative people that the problems caused by insensitive others are the results of them “imagining it’. Such persons, who say these insulting word, want to hide something and make you a scapegoat for whatever they want to hide.

Trust is not an issue. It simply does not exist. It more of a scheme to save grace amidst disgrace. So beware!

Hot Tip On Spousal Support and Other Divorce Issues

Did you know that you don't have to be divorce to get spousal support? Or that in a no -fault state like Florida, if you walked away from a bad marriage and your marriage home, that you still own your share of it?

Check out these and other divorce tips at Hot Topics in Divorce Blog

Jealousy At it Worst

Ever wanted to see jealousy at its worst. Watch a gaggle of women in an office full of them. Its not a becoming sight.

If you have a comment about any of my sites, use the comment box.

Otherwise, get over it.

P.S. Whoever  your contacts are on the outside, you need to drop them because they are seeping with more than the disease of jealousy all over you. So leave that US mailbox along.

This stands as written and will remain. So, GET OFF MY SITES!

Houston's City Legal Rule - Noisy Vehicle Ordinance Valid and Enforceable

Some of you may remember that I am a member of the Saint Petersburg branch of Noise Off, a coalition against noise pollution. Back in 2009, Noise Off was able to convince the then Saint Petersburg’s City Council that excessive noise is a public health issue that negatively affects the lives of the citizens of Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Since that time and though there are fewer “Boomcars” rambling loudly up and down the public streets within the city limits, the enforcement of the noise ordinance by the Saint Petersburg Police Department has had it positive affect on the city of Saint Petersburg as a whole. Yet, Noise Off is an international group and proud of the success of all its members.

This stated, below is a message from Officer Rick Holtsclaw of the Houston Police Department on the success in gaining support for the enforcement of Houston's City Ordnance 30-4 "Noisy Vehicles Generally", which has led to a ruling from Houston's City Legal that the enforcement of the ordnance Is valid and enforceable.

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Message date Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Those of you familiar with my ongoing battle with a particular supervisor regarding the validity of Houston's City Ordnance 30-4 "Noisy Vehicles Generally" will be pleased to hear that City Legal has returned a verdict of "enforceable.” I was subsequently called into my Captains office and told that I was permitted to resume enforcing the noise ordinance as it relates to loud exhaust on motorcycles and automobiles. The earlier order to stop enforcement due to perceived subjectivity issues has been overturned. Those members who have an abiding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ pray that I will enforce the current noise ordinance with wisdom and discernment. Thanks to those who took the time to write the letters and make the phone calls.

Sincerely,

Rick Holtsclaw SPO

Houston Police Department

Westside Division

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Congratulation Office Holtsclaw!

Let this message be proof that the fight against excessive noise is still strong and an ever growing task. Meanwhile, the members of Noise Off here in Saint Petersburg, Florida are working toward a reversal of the order that shut down the St. Petersburg Police Department “Tone Down Violation Form" program by Chief Harmon from Mayor Bill Foster.

If you want to help in the effort to reinstate the “Tone Down Violation Form", click to contact Noise Off, and then seek out the members' page for the city's program founder in our area.




St. Petersburg, Florida Police Step-Up Enforcement of Existing Noise Ordinance an article in Noise News for Week of August 22,2010.

Should Spartacus: Blood and Sand Be Banned For Its Amoral Subplots?

Hello,

Evelyn here,

A few of the gays in my area are upset with my disapproval of gay intercourse on television. Yes, I believe some of the subplots of the show Spartacus: Blood and Sand are amoral, and I would like to see it banned here in America. So remember as you seek me out,or attempt to cause me problems about town, I am a writer, a reviewer, but I am also a Christian, wife and mother and while I have nothing against gays as whole, I neither like nor need troublemakers. I have also informed Starz of the development here.

On that note, I do not need people going about town with the intent of making trouble for me because I rejected the attention of men who I do not want and who do not interest me. I mean, I am a married woman and that means something to me. May my marriage be good or bad, it is mine, and I will always respect it. Also, I feel lucky for not wanting to involve myself with the type of men who attempt to cause or allow others to cause me problems simply I do not want them and for being mature enough to trust my own judgment in such matters. So do me the favor and cut the crap!

Evelyn out.