Columbia Gas Settles Class Action Suits
U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Farnan, Jr. on October 16 approved a $36.5-million settlement resolving class action lawsuits alleging securities laws violations against the bankrupt Columbia Gas System (CGS).The lawsuits were filed by various security holders against CGS, its independent public accountants, the underwriters of its 1990 stock offering, and certain officers and directors. CGS's portion of the settlement amounts to $16.5 million, with the remainder shared among the insurance carriers of various defendants.