/raid1/www/Hosts/bankrupt/CAR_Public/031216.mbx            C L A S S   A C T I O N   R E P O R T E R

          Tuesday, December 16, 2003, Vol. 5, No. 248

                        Headlines

ARCTIC CAT: Recalls 3,700 Snowmobiles Due To Defect, Injury Risk
ATLANTIS FOODS: Recalls Salad, Spreads For Possible Health Risk
BARR FINANCIAL: SEC Refuses To Reconsider Ruling on Stock Fraud
CALIFORNIA: De-Anza Residents To Stay Until Lawsuit Is Resolved
CARREKER CORPORATION: TX Court Consolidates Securities Lawsuits

CUMULUS MEDIA: Judgment Reached in SEC's Securities Fraud Suit
DOLLAR TREE: Employees Launch Overtime Wage Lawsuits in CA, AL
FIRST & MAIN: Recalls 2,300 Flutterby Toys Due To Choking Hazard
GAMESTOP CORPORATION: Certification Hearing Set For April 2004
H&R BLOCK: Faces Investigation Over Refund Anticipation Loans

HEARTLAND ADVISORS: SEC Files Injunctive Lawsuit For Stock Fraud
HEARTLAND GROUP: SEC Settles Admin Proceedings V. Ex Directors
HOMEAMERICAN CREDIT: IL Court Dismisses Consumer Fraud Lawsuit
INDIANA: Silver Lakes Mobile Home Resident Files Property Suit
JOHNSON & JOHNSON: Subsidiary Subpoenaed Due To Epilepsy Drug

MICROSOFT CORPORATION: To Remove Swastikas From Software Fonts
NICOR ENERGY: SEC Launches Civil Enforcement Action in N.D. IL
SAFEWAY INC.: Recalls Chocolate Ice Cream For Undeclared Peanuts
SBC COMMUNICATIONS: Faces Lawsuit For Overcharging Advertisers
SCHYLLING ASSOCIATES: Recalls "Jack-In-the-Box" For Choking Risk

STOP & SHOP: Recalls Party Cookies Due To Undeclared Milk, Nuts
TENET HEALTHCARE: To Sell Hospital To Prevent Medicare Exclusion
TYSON FOODS: Certification Granted In OK Environmental Lawsuit
WAL-MART STORES: Recalls Candles For Potential Fire/ Burn Hazard
WASHINGTON: Judge Dismisses Foster Care Lawsuit V. Clark County

                   New Securities Fraud Cases

AEROSONIC CORPORATION: Charles Piven Files Securities Suit in FL
AEROSONIC CORPORATION: Lasky Rifkind Files Securities Suit in FL
AEROSONIC CORPORATION: Kirby McInerney Launches Stock Suit in FL
ALKERMES INC: Goodkind Labaton Commences Securities Suit in MA
CAREER EDUCATION: Schiffrin & Barroway Launches Stock Suit in IL

CERUS CORPORATION: Schiffrin & Barroway Lodges Stock Suit in CA
INVESCO FUNDS: Alfred Yates Launches Securities Fraud Suit in CO
MFS FUNDS: Cauley Geller Commences Securities Fraud Suit in MA
MORGAN STANLEY: Charles Piven Files Securities Suit in S.D. NY
PMA CAPITAL: Marc Henzel Commences Securities Suit in E.D. PA

PUTNAM FUNDS: Spector, Roseman Lodges Securities Suit in S.D. NY

                          *********

ARCTIC CAT: Recalls 3,700 Snowmobiles Due To Defect, Injury Risk
----------------------------------------------------------------
Arctic Cat Inc., of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, in cooperation
with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is
recalling 3,700 since the red plastic skis used on these 2003
model year snowmobiles could be damaged by UV light exposure.
If during off-season storage, the snowmobile was stored with the
skis exposed to sunlight, damage may have occurred.  If UV
damage has occurred, the ski may crack or break during use.  If
this occurs, it could lead to a loss of control that could
result in severe injury or death.  There have been no reports of
incidents or injuries regarding this product.

The recalled red plastic skis (part number 1703-131) were used
on a number of 2003 Arctic Cat Firecat models.  All 2003 Arctic
Cat Firecat snowmobiles produced with red plastic skis are
included in this recall.  The Snowmobiles, manufactured in
Madison, S.D., are sold at Arctic Cat dealerships worldwide from
June 2002 through December 2003 for between $6,500 and $8,500.

Consumers should stop using these snowmobiles immediately.
Registered owners have been notified about this recall by mail.
If consumers are unsure if their snowmobile is affected, they
should call Arctic Cat toll-free at (800) 279-2281 between 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or go to the firm's Web
site at www.arctic-cat.com.  Consumers should have available the
model name and model number of the snowmobile when they call.
The model name and model number are displayed on the
registration materials you received when you purchased your
snowmobile, and on your operator's manual. Consumers with a
recalled snowmobile should contact their local Arctic Cat
snowmobile dealer to schedule the free repair.


ATLANTIS FOODS: Recalls Salad, Spreads For Possible Health Risk
---------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantis Foods, Lantana, Florida, in cooperation with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is recalling its 8 and 24
ounce plastic containers of "ATLANTIS" brand Salmon Spread and
24 ounce plastic containers of Chicken Salad with Almonds and
Cranberries because they have the potential to be contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious
and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or
elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms
such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea,
abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause
miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled Salmon Spread was distributed to BJ's Wholesale
Club stores in New Castle, Delaware, 3 Publix distribution
centers in Florida; Lakeland, Jacksonville, & Deerfield Beach
and Dacula, Georgia. (Lot numbers are located on the bottom of
container.)

     (1) Salmon Spread (8 oz plastic container) Lot number 308-1
         expiration date 01/08/2004

     (2) Salmon Spread (24 oz plastic containers) Lot number
         308-1 expiration date 01/08/2004

     (3) Salmon Spread (8 oz plastic container) Lot number 324-1
         expiration date 01/24/2004

     (4) Salmon Spread (24 oz plastic container) Lot number 324-
         1 expiration date 01/24/2004

The recalled Chicken Salad with Almonds and Cranberries was
distributed to Costco Distribution Center in Dacula, Georgia.
(Lot numbers are located on the bottom of the container.) -
Chicken Salad with Almonds and Cranberries (24 ounce plastic
container) Lot number 325-3 expiration date 12/26/2003

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this
problem. The potential for contamination was noted after routine
testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria
monocytogenes in the product lots.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled 8 and 24 ounce
packages of Atlantis Foods Salmon Spread or Atlantis Foods 24
ounce Chicken with Almonds and Cranberries are urged to return
them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with
questions may contact the company at 1-888-584-6089.


BARR FINANCIAL: SEC Refuses To Reconsider Ruling on Stock Fraud
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission denied a request by the
Barr Financial Group, Inc., an investment adviser, and Alfred E.
Barr, Barr Financial's president, for reconsideration of a
Commission decision finding that respondents had violated the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and imposing sanctions.

The Commission found that respondents made untrue statements of
material fact in Commission filings during 1997 and 1998.
Respondents' statements concerned the amount of assets Barr
Financial had under management and Mr. Barr's academic
background.  The Commission further found that respondents were
permanently enjoined in 1999 from violating the Advisers Act
based on their failure to cooperate with an examination of Barr
Financial by Commission staff.

Based on these findings, the Commission ordered respondents to
cease and desist from violating the Advisers Act provisions they
had been found to have violated, barred Mr. Barr from
associating with an investment adviser, and revoked Barr
Financial's registration.

In determining to deny the reconsideration, the Commission
pointed out that respondents' contentions were indistinguishable
from those that they had made in their prior filings and at oral
argument, which the Commission had previously considered and
rejected.


CALIFORNIA: De-Anza Residents To Stay Until Lawsuit Is Resolved
---------------------------------------------------------------
De Anza mobile-home park residents who are current with their
rents, got what they wanted for Christmas -and can stay until a
class action lawsuit against the city is resolved, the San Diego
Union-Tribune reports.

The lawsuit, filed last month by the De Anza Cove Homeowners
Association, alleges that the city violated state laws when it
failed to conduct a tenant-impact study before phasing out the
park, on the northeastern edge of Mission Bay Park.  The city
took over the property from De Anza Harbor Resort and Golf last
month as mandated by a 1981 state law.  The resort had leased
the land from the city and subleased the lots to mobile-home
owners.

The 1981 state law ordered the city to return the 76 acres to
public use, as was intended when the state first granted the
land to the city. De Anza residents were notified of the state
law when they signed their leases.  Attorneys for the homeowners
association called Friday's Superior Court decision to grant the
injunction a "decisive" victory, the Union-Tribune reports.

"This is really the best Christmas present they got," Tim Tatro,
one of the attorneys, told the Union-Tribune.  "We feel the
court's ruling gives the many elderly and disabled residents of
the park some very needed relief from the city's scare tactics
and threats of eviction right before the holidays."

The judge ordered that a $20,000 bond be posted by the
homeowners to cover damages suffered by the city because of the
injunction.

Will Griffith, the city's real estate director, said the city
will appear before the judge this week to seek clarifications
and perhaps argue against the injunction.  The city still can
evict residents who have not paid rent, he said.  The city has
said it is exempted from tenant-impact studies because it is
implementing another state law that requires the conversion of
the mobile-home park to public use.

"We absolutely have a strong case," Mr. Griffith told the Union-
Tribune.  He added that the injunction does not prevent the city
from continuing to sign move-out agreements with homeowners.
Already, 82 out of an estimated 510 homeowners have signed.  The
deadline is December 30.

An additional 320 homeowners have turned in questionnaires that
sought personal information needed to finalize the move-out
offers, Mr. Griffith said.  The courts cannot change the move-
out agreements.  The settlement agreement was an impetus for the
lawsuit.  The city offered homeowners up to 4« years to move out
and compensation of $4,000 to $8,000.

However, homeowners said the money is not even enough to cover
the cost of demolition of their units, many of which are too old
to be moved.  Moreover, they said, many of the residents are
elderly or disabled and have no place to go.


CARREKER CORPORATION: TX Court Consolidates Securities Lawsuits
---------------------------------------------------------------
The United States District Court for the Northern District of
Texas, Dallas Division, consolidated several class actions filed
against Carreker Corporation, John D. Carreker Jr. and Terry L.
Gage into a Consolidated Action styled "In re Carreker
Corporation Securities Litigation, Civil Action No. 303CV0250-
M."

Another suit, is pending against the Company, John D. Carreker
Jr. and Terry L. Gage in the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Texas, Texarkana Division.

These complaints, filed on behalf of purchasers of the Company's
common stock between May 20, 1998 and December 10, 2002,
inclusive, allege violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 against all defendants
and violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against the
individual defendants.

These complaints also allege, among other things, that
defendants artificially inflated the value of the Company's
stock by knowingly or recklessly misrepresenting the Company's
financial results during the purported class period.  The
plaintiffs are seeking unspecified amounts of compensatory
damages, interests and costs, including legal fees.


CUMULUS MEDIA: Judgment Reached in SEC's Securities Fraud Suit
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint in the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
alleging that Cumulus Media Inc., a Delaware corporation with
headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and certain of its former
officers engaged in two separate schemes to artificially inflate
Cumulus' financial position.

Specifically, the Commission's complaint alleged that in one
scheme, Cumulus and its former Chief Financial Officer, Richard
J. Bonick, Jr., prematurely recorded revenue from package
advertising contracts into Cumulus' books and records throughout
1999.   As a result, Cumulus overstated its net revenues and
broadcast cash flows and understated its net losses in its
quarterly reports for the first and third quarters of 1999 and
in registration statements and prospectuses for two secondary
offerings of Cumulus' common stock during July and November
1999.

The Commission's complaint also alleged that in a second scheme,
Cumulus, its former Executive Chairman, Richard W. Weening, and
its former Vice President of Finance, Daniel O'Donnell, engaged
in an attempt to manage Cumulus' earnings and broadcast cash
flow for the fourth quarter of 1999 in order to bring those
figures in line with Wall Street analysts' expectations.

The Commission further alleged that when Cumulus' auditors
learned of this practice, they told Mr. Weening that the manner
in which Cumulus was attempting to record the effect of the
amendments was indicative of earnings management.  As a result,
Cumulus canceled the amended agreements and reversed related
accounting entries prior to their inclusion in Cumulus' periodic
filings with the Commission.

All of the defendants, without admitting or denying the
allegations of the complaint, consented to the entry of final
judgments against them.  Cumulus and Mr. Bonick consented to
orders permanently enjoining them from violating or aiding and
abetting violations of Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933, Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), 13(b)(2)(B)
and 13(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules
12b-20, 13a-13 and 13b2-1 thereunder and Mr. Bonick agreed to
pay a civil penalty of $50,000.  Mr. Weening and Mr. O'Donnell
consented to orders permanently enjoining them from violating or
aiding and abetting violations of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and
13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13b2-1 and 13b2-2
thereunder.   Mr. Weening and Mr. O'Donnell also agreed to pay
civil penalties of $75,000 and $40,000 respectively.

The suit is styled "SEC v. Cumulus Media Inc. et al., Civil
Action No. 03 C 8908, USDC, N.D. Ill."


DOLLAR TREE: Employees Launch Overtime Wage Lawsuits in CA, AL
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. faces a new class action filed in
California State Court by an employee, alleging that the
Company's employees should have been granted paid rest periods
and meal period breaks.

The company has been sued in California by several employees and
in Alabama by a salaried store manager and a former store
manager who allege, among other things, that they should have
been classified as non-exempt employees and, therefore, should
have received overtime compensation.  The suits also request
that the California state court certify the case as a class
action on behalf of all store managers, assistant managers and
merchandise managers in the Company's California stores and
request that the Alabama Federal Court certify the case as a
collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act on behalf
of all salaried managers in all of the Company's stores.

As in the other California lawsuit, the newest suit alleges that
salaried managers should have been classified as non-exempt
employees and, therefore, should have received overtime
compensation.  The suit also requests that the California state
court certify the case as a class action.


FIRST & MAIN: Recalls 2,300 Flutterby Toys Due To Choking Hazard
----------------------------------------------------------------
First & Main Inc., of Lombard, Illinois, in cooperation with the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling
2,300 Flutterby Plush Toys since the decorative gem stone on the
toy's wings could detach, posing a choking hazard to young
children.  There have been no reports of incidents or injuries
regarding this product.

This Flutterby plush toy is a winged horse.  These pink, blue or
purple toys have small plastic gem stones attached to the
horse's wings.  The toys have labels reading, "First & Main,
Inc., Lombard, IL, Flutterby, Item No. 4005."

The toys, manufactured in China, were sold at Flower shops and
small gift shops nationwide from July 2002 through November 2002
for about $15.

Customers are urged to return the toys to store where purchased
for a refund.  For more information, contact: First & Main Inc.
at (800) 726-1400 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through
Friday, or visit the firm's Website:
http://www.firstandmain.com/recall.asp


GAMESTOP CORPORATION: Certification Hearing Set For April 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------
Class certification hearing for the employee class action filed
against Gamestop Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary
Gamestop, Inc. is set for April 28,2004.

On May 29, 2003, former Store Manager Carlos Moreira filed the
suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that
GameStop's salaried retail managers were misclassified as exempt
and should have been paid overtime.  The Plaintiff is seeking to
represent a class of current and former salaried retail managers
who were employed by GameStop in California at anytime between
May 29, 1999 and the present.

The Plaintiff has alleged claims for violation of California
Labor Code sections 203, 226 and 1194 and California Business
and Professions Code section 17200.  The Plaintiff requests
recovery of unpaid overtime, interest, penalties, attorneys'
fees and costs.

The matter is in the pre-certification stage, and the parties
are in the middle of class discovery.  The court has ordered the
parties to mediation, which will take place on January 15, 2004.


H&R BLOCK: Faces Investigation Over Refund Anticipation Loans
-------------------------------------------------------------
According to company reports Friday, the Securities & Exchange
Commission (SEC) is investigating disclosures made by H&R Block
Inc. about litigation stemming from its refund anticipation loan
business, Reuters reports.

H&R Block, the nation's largest tax preparer, said its outside
counsel received a notice Thursday of the formal order of
investigation from the SEC.  The order concerns disclosures made
in and before November 2002, the company said.  The Kansas City,
Missouri-based company has fought, and in some cases has
settled, several class-action lawsuits that charge it misled its
clients when it did not disclose the true costs of the short-
term "refund anticipation" loans, offered to customers awaiting
income tax refunds.

H&R Block said it intends to cooperate fully with the SEC.
Spokesman Bob Schneider told Reuters the company has fully
disclosed details about litigation that began soon after it
began offering the loans in the early 1990s and peaked with a
$41.7 million settlement in a Texas case in November 2002.  The
conclusion of the 6-year-old Texas case took the company by
surprise, Mr. Schneider said, but H&R Block was given little
choice but to settle.

"In November 2002 we got a letter from a judge that said he was
going to skip trial and go right to a trial for damages," he
said.  "He indicated what he was going to fine us, and the
settlement we reached was significantly less than that."


Still, Mr. Schneider said, the company had not anticipated such
a large settlement, but he said H&R Block divulged the details
as soon as they were available.  "In retrospect, should we have
anticipated that amount of money?" he asked.  "We believe we
disclosed everything, based on everything that was known at the
time. Could we have anticipated what we saw as fairly surprising
unilateral decision by a judge to do what he did? Certainly we
didn't anticipate it would be anything like it was."

News of the investigation came the same day the company forecast
a smaller-than-usual increase in the number of people filing tax
returns next year because of the country's unemployment rate.

H&R Block chairman, chief executive and president Mark Ernst
said the Internal Revenue Service recently lowered the expected
increase in tax filers to 0.5 percent from the usual 1.5 percent
growth rate.  "And we understand why they'd say that," he told
Reuters.  "Our analysis of the impact of the economy has us
seeing the same thing. While overall economic numbers are
picking up, the employment numbers haven't improved
dramatically."

Mr. Ernst said the company's marketing message last year failed
to drive as many tax filers into H&R Block offices as it
expected, so the company has revamped its approach.  The new
message focuses on a client's entire financial health, not just
taxes, "and how H&R Block can help them through challenging
financial times and what (clients) can do today to improve their
financial life," he said.

Beyond taxes, H&R Block also has a mortgage business, a
financial advice business and an accounting, tax and consulting
business.  The company also has also expanded its distribution.
It inked a deal with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in September to put
tax-preparation offices in some Wal-Mart stores, and will begin
opening those offices on January 15, Mr. Ernst said.

H&R Block shares rose 3 cents to close at $51.72 Friday on the
New York Stock Exchange.


HEARTLAND ADVISORS: SEC Files Injunctive Lawsuit For Stock Fraud
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil injunctive
action in the Eastern District of Wisconsin against Heartland
Advisors Inc., a Milwaukee, Wisconsin investment adviser, and:

     (1) William Nasgovitz,

     (2) Paul Beste,

     (3) Jilaine Bauer,

     (4) Thomas Conlin,

     (5) Greg Winston,

     (6) Kevin Clerk,

     (7) Kenneth Della,

     (8) Hugh Denison and

     (9) Raymond Krueger

The Commission's actions alleged violations in three primary
areas - fund pricing, insider trading, and disclosure - and
relate to two high-yield municipal bond funds managed by
Heartland Advisers (the Funds).   These allegations came to
light when the Funds, and a smaller related fund, dropped in
value by approximately $93 million between September 28 and
October 13, 2000, due to the confluence of months of deliberate
mispricing of the Funds' securities by Heartland Advisers and a
cash-flow crisis related to extensive borrowing to meet investor
redemptions.

While investors were kept in the dark about the status of the
funds, Mr. Nasgovitz tipped one of his friends and clients, Mr.
Krueger, who liquidated his shares in one of the Funds.  Ms.
Bauer, Mr. Winston and Mr. Della also liquidated shares in one
or more of the Funds and/or a related fund, with inside
information about the Funds' pricing and cash flow problems.
Further, Mr. Winston tipped family members who liquidated their
shares in one or more of the Funds and/or a related fund.

The SEC seeks an order of permanent injunction, disgorgement
plus pre-judgment interest and civil penalties from all of the
defendants for their violations of the antifraud provisions of
the Securities Exchange Act of the 1934 and/or various other
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940.


HEARTLAND GROUP: SEC Settles Admin Proceedings V. Ex Directors
--------------------------------------------------------------
In a settled administrative proceeding, the Securities and
Exchange Commission issued an order, by consent, requiring
Heartland Group Inc.'s former Independent Directors, Jon Hammes,
Albert Shilling, Allan Stefl, and Linda Stephenson, to cease and
desist from committing or causing violations of certain
antifraud provisions of the Securities Act and causing
violations of the fund pricing provision of the Investment
Company Act, for their negligent failure to adequately monitor
the liquidity of the Funds and to take adequate steps to address
the Funds' pricing deficiencies.  Mr. Hammes, Mr. Shilling, Mr.
Stefl and Ms. Stephenson neither admitted nor denied the
Commission's findings.

In a related settled administrative proceeding, FT Interactive
Corporation consented to the issuance of an order by the SEC
finding that it caused and willfully aided and abetted Heartland
Advisor's violations of the antifraud provisions of the
Investment Advisers Act and a provision of the Investment
Company Act requiring that a fund's NAV accurately reflect the
fair value of the securities held by the fund.

In that order, the Commission also censured FT Interactive,
ordered it to cease and from committing or causing the above
violations, ordered it to pay a $125,000 civil penalty and
ordered it to comply with certain undertakings regarding the
pricing of securities for which market quotations are not
readily available.  FT Interactive neither admitted nor denied
the Commission's findings.


HOMEAMERICAN CREDIT: IL Court Dismisses Consumer Fraud Lawsuit
--------------------------------------------------------------
The United States District Court for the Northern District of
Illinois dismissed in its entirety the class action filed
against HomeAmerican Credit, Inc., styled "Calvin Hale v.
HomeAmerican Credit, Inc., No. 02 C 1606."

The suit was filed against the Company, which does business as
Upland Mortgage, on behalf of borrowers in Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan and Wisconsin who paid a document preparation fee on
loans originated since February 4, 1997.  The case consisted of
three purported class action counts and two individual counts.

The plaintiff alleged that the charging of, and the failure to
properly disclose the nature of, a document preparation fee were
improper under applicable state law.  In November 2002 the court
dismissed the three class action counts and an agreement in
principle was reached in August 2003 to settle the matter.  The
terms of the settlement have been finalized and the action was
dismissed on September 23, 2003.

The matter did not have a material effect on the Company's
consolidated financial position or results of operations.  Due
to the Company's current expectation regarding the ultimate
resolution of these actions, management believes that the
liabilities resulting from these actions will not have a
material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position
or results of operations.


INDIANA: Silver Lakes Mobile Home Resident Files Property Suit
--------------------------------------------------------------
Residents of the Silver Lakes mobile home community in
Clarksville say they've had enough of flooded yards, faulty
sewage connections and dangerous electrical wiring that one of
them has filed suit in Clark Superior Court against the
California owners of the property, the Courier-Journal reports.

The mobile home park, which has 332 lots off U.S. 31, has been
cited repeatedly for numerous violations by the Indiana State
Department of Health over at least the past 15 months.  The
department threatened in June to call an enforcement hearing
after an inspector listed 35 violations at Silver Lakes.  The
violations included sewer connections that leaked or were
otherwise faulty, numerous electrical problems such as exposed
live wires at electrical junction boxes, and poor drainage that
caused water to form ponds around and under the homes.

The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit is Katrina Embry, who has
lived in Silver Lakes with her boyfriend and two children for
more than four years.  Ms. Embry's father, Wallace Pezzullo, who
owns the home but does not live there, also is a plaintiff.  Ms.
Embry and her lawyer say park management has done nothing to
address her complaints.

The general manager of Tower Management, which is based in
Pasadena, California, and owns Silver Lakes, says things have
improved in recent months after a change in management at the
park.  A health department official agrees that most of the
violations have been addressed satisfactorily, while adding that
major problems remain.

Poor drainage is one of them.  On Wednesday, Ms. Embry showed
standing water in the grassy areas between homes on her side of
Primrose Lane as a result of overnight and morning rains.  The
aluminum skirting around the bottoms of many homes is marked by
rust holes and mossy green growth, the Courier-Journal reports.

The same was true for homes on the other side of the street,
where Shannon Hubbard has lived with her 9-year-old daughter for
six years.  "We complain and they don't do anything," Ms.
Hubbard said.  Inside, she showed how the tilt in her trailer
requires her to use a string attached to a pushpin on a wall to
keep the door to her son's room open.

Darryl Shain, Ms. Embry's boyfriend, complained about potential
health problems connected to the wetness.  "We've got a boy with
asthma, and I know mildew and mold can't be good for him," said
Mr. Shain.

Ms. Hubbard said that "if they just fix the flooding problem
that would be a major improvement."

Attorney Matthew Lemme, who filed the suit against Silver Lakes
on November 26, said he has since been contacted by a dozen or
more residents who want to join the litigation.  The suit seeks
an amount of money, to be determined at trial, for damage
allegedly caused by the conditions.  A judge must rule on Mr.
Lemme's request for the suit to be certified as a class action,
representing the interests of all Silver Lakes residents.

Alex Boggs, the general property manager for Tower Management,
said the company had not yet seen the suit.  Mr. Boggs told the
Courier-Journal the company became aware of problems at Silver
Lakes only when it was contacted directly by the health
department after the June inspection.  Mr. Boggs said an on-site
manager of Silver Lakes, who has since been replaced, "was not
communicating with us . at least in a timely manner."  The
health department had previously dealt only with the on-site
manager.

Michael Hoover, director of the state health department's
environmental health section, wrote a November 12 letter that
said in part, "With the progress made in bringing the park into
compliance . and the willingness of the new managers to work to
achieve compliance, enforcement action is being delayed."

Yesterday, Mr. Hoover noted that an inspection in November
showed 12 violations at Silver Lakes, down from the 35 cited in
June.

The remaining violations centered on the poor drainage and
continuing electrical problems.  The inspection report gave
Silver Lakes until January 5 to correct the problems or face
unspecified civil penalties.

Mr. Boggs said yesterday, "If there's a problem and we can
remedy it, we will."

"We complain and they don't do anything," Shannon Hubbard said
as she showed where the standing water in the Silver Lakes
trailer park had damaged her mobile home's underpinning.


JOHNSON & JOHNSON: Subsidiary Subpoenaed Due To Epilepsy Drug
-------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson & Johnson on Friday said that its Ortho-McNeil
Pharmaceutical Inc. unit received a subpoena from the U.S.
Attorney's Office in Boston, asking for documents related to the
sale and marketing of its epilepsy drug Topamax, Reuters
reports.

The company said in a statement it is cooperating in responding
to the subpoena but a spokeswoman said the company "could not be
more specific at this time."  Officials from the U.S. Attorney's
Office were not immediately available for comment.

In November, J&J said U.S. regulators would approve the drug as
a preventative treatment for migraine headaches as long as the
company provides additional analyzes of its safety data.  So far
the drug has not been approved as a migraine treatment.  Earlier
this year the company was asked by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration to add a warning to the drug's label of
hyperthermia and oligohidrosis, a condition marked by decreased
sweating.

Several big drugmakers are the subject of probes over aggressive
marketing practices and reimbursement rates charged to the
government. Department of Justice officials in Massachusetts are
also investigating Schering-Plough Corporation and
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., among other companies.  Sales of
Topamax in the third-quarter rose 37 percent to $253 million
over the year-ago quarter.

J&J's shares fell 70 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $49.40 in midday
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Reuters reports.


MICROSOFT CORPORATION: To Remove Swastikas From Software Fonts
---------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Corporation said last week that its latest version of
Office software inadvertently contained a font featuring two
swastikas, and said it would offer tools to remove and replace
the offending characters from the program, Reuters reports.

The swastika, which was made infamous by Nazi Germany, was
included in Microsoft's "Bookshelf Symbol 7" font.  That font
was derived from a Japanese font set, said Microsoft Office
product manager Simon Marks.  "It was discovered by one of our
customers a couple weeks ago," Mr. Marks said, adding that there
was "no indication of malicious intent."

The Redmond, Washington-based software maker said that it had
contacted various Jewish organizations about the font and said a
utility would be immediately available on its Web site that
would remove the characters from the system.  Microsoft said it
will release other tools at a later date to remove only the
offending characters.

A form of the swastika has been used in the Buddhist religion to
symbolize the feet or footprints of the Buddha.  The symbol,
which was also used widely in the ancient world including
Mesopotamia, Scandinavia, India and the Americas, became common
in China and Japan with the spread of Buddhism, Reuters states.
German dictator Adolf Hitler adopted the swastika as the symbol
of the Nazi Party because of its nationalist identification,
according to the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, an
international Jewish human rights group.


NICOR ENERGY: SEC Launches Civil Enforcement Action in N.D. IL
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil enforcement
action in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois against four former senior executives of
Nicor Energy LLC, a joint venture between Nicor Inc. and Dynegy
Inc.

In its complaint, the SEC charged that Kevin M. Stoffer, Nicor
Energy's former president and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew J.
Johnson, Nicor Energy's former Director of Financial Services,
John Fringer, Nicor Energy's former Vice President of Power
Services and Regulatory Affairs, and John F. Weir, Nicor
Energy's former Director of Gas Services and Major Markets,
engaged in a scheme that improperly inflated Nicor Energy's net
income.  Mr. Stoffer, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Fringer were indicted
in connection with the same conduct.

In its case, the SEC alleged that the defendants, using Nicor as
a conduit, made material misstatements, and/or omitted to state
material facts, to the investing public regarding Nicor Energy's
financial condition and results of operations for its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2001.  The complaint alleged that the
defendants knowingly or recklessly overstated Nicor Energy's
unbilled revenue accounts, understated Nicor Energy's accounts
receivable (bad debt) reserve, shifted 2001 expenses into 2002
and shifted 2002 income into 2001, in order to inflate Nicor
Energy's 2001 income by more than $11 million.  As a result of
the fraud, Nicor Energy erroneously reported to Nicor net income
of $4.097 million instead of losses of $7.47 million for 2001.

The suit is styled "SEC v. Stoffer, et al., N.D. Ill., Civil
Action No. 03 C 8910."


SAFEWAY INC.: Recalls Chocolate Ice Cream For Undeclared Peanuts
----------------------------------------------------------------
Safeway Inc. of Pleasanton, CA, in cooperation with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is recalling « gallon size
Lucerne Chocolate Almond Ice Cream, because it may contain
undeclared peanuts. People who have an allergy or severe
sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-
threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

There has been one reported mild reaction to date.

Lucerne Chocolate Almond Ice Cream was distributed to Safeway
stores in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and the city of
Milton Freewater, Oregon.

The recalled Lucerne Chocolate Almond Ice Cream has a 21130-
08055 UPC number and a Best Before JUL 12 04 53-38 date. The
code and date are located on the carton's end flap.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product
containing peanuts was distributed in packaging that did not
reveal the presence of peanuts. The cause of the problem is
under investigation.

Consumers who have purchased a 1/2 gallon square carton package
of Lucerne Chocolate Almond Ice Cream bearing the above code and
date, may return the package to their local store for a full
refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at
1-877-723-3929.


SBC COMMUNICATIONS: Faces Lawsuit For Overcharging Advertisers
--------------------------------------------------------------
A class action accuses San Antonio-based SBC Communications
Inc., the nation's second-largest local-service phone company,
of wrongly overcharging Yellow Pages advertisers by $20 million,
Knight-Ridder / Tribune Business News reports.  The Company has
denied the allegations.

The suit, filed last year in Missouri state court in Kansas
City, alleges SBC tacked an unauthorized $25 "collection
activity fee" to invoices of customers that bought Yellow Pages
ads in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and didn't
pay for them on time.  Plaintiffs' attorneys next week will mail
notices about the suit to 175,000 SBC customers and take out ads
in newspapers to ask them to join the legal action.

The $25 penalty isn't detailed in advertisers' contracts with
the company, said Theodore Beckett III, attorney for the two
Kansas City-based companies that brought the suit.  "It's
deceptive conduct," Mr. Beckett said.  "To unilaterally charge
someone in violation of their agreement just isn't good
business, and people should be concerned about it."

SBC spokesman Bob Mueller said the contracts state SBC can
charge advertisers to cover collection fees if they're late with
payments.  The fees, he added, help the company cover those
costs without raising ad rates.  "I'd point out that the fee was
never an issue for our customers who pay their bills on time,"
he said.

Liberty Cellular Inc. and Blast Inc. of Kansas City filed the
suit in late 2001.  A Jackson County circuit judge certified it
as a class action last year and later issued a judgment saying
there was no wording in the contract to authorize the fee.

SBC officials said the company stopped billing for the fees on
December 1.  The company also reworked its contract after the
ruling to provide more details about the penalty.  "We changed
the wording to make it even more clear," Mr. Mueller said.


SCHYLLING ASSOCIATES: Recalls "Jack-In-the-Box" For Choking Risk
----------------------------------------------------------------
Schylling Associates Inc. of Rowley Mass., in cooperation with
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling
14,400 "Jack-In-the-Box" Type Toys since the bead on the crank
of the toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young
children.  There have been no reports of incidents or injuries
regarding this product.

Two designs of the "Jack-In-the-Box" type toys are included in
this recall, both of which play "Pop Goes the Weasel" when the
crank is turned.  One is based on Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat, and
the other is based on Ian Falconer's Olivia the pig character.
The Cat in the Hat box is red, yellow and blue and has a black
and white cat dressed in a red and white hat that pops out of
the box. "CAT IN THE HAT" is written on the box lid.  The Olivia
box is black and salmon-colored with "CIRCUS" written around the
top sides.  The Olivia character dressed as clown pops out.

Schylling Associates Inc. previously recalled a Bear "Jack-In-
the-Box" type toy in November with the same hazard.

The toys, manufactured in China, were sold at Specialty stores,
gift shops, department stores and book stores nationwide from
June 2003 through November 2003 for about $25.

Customers are urged to take these toys away from children
immediately and contact the firm for information on receiving a
refund or replacement toy.  For more information, contact
Schylling Associates Inc. at (800) 767-8697 between 9 a.m. and
5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site
at http://www.schylling.com.


STOP & SHOP: Recalls Party Cookies Due To Undeclared Milk, Nuts
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, in cooperation with the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is recalling its Stop &
Shop brand store-packaged 16 oz. assorted party cookies because
certain cookies within the assortment may contain undeclared
milk products and nuts and these ingredients are not listed on
the package label.  People who have an allergy or severe
sensitivity to milk products or nuts run the risk of serious or
life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
Due to the labeling error, this product has been withdrawn from
sale in all Stop & Shop Supermarkets.

This assorted party cookies product was sold under the Stop &
Shop label as a Bake Shop item in Stop & Shop stores in
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey
and Rhode Island. The product is 16 oz. and is packaged in a
clear plastic container. Before it was removed from shelves, the
product was located in the In-Store Bakery. The UPC code is
002000-043476.

This recall was initiated by Stop & Shop after it discovered
today that the labels did not correctly reveal the possible
presence of milk products or nuts in this product. No illnesses
have been reported to date.

Consumers should return the product to their local Stop & Shop
for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact their
store manager or call our customer service line at
1-800-767-7772.


TENET HEALTHCARE: To Sell Hospital To Prevent Medicare Exclusion
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tenet Healthcare Corporation has agreed to sell Redding Medical
Center, in the face of exclusion from Medicare reimbursements,
company and government officials announced, Reuters reports.

Two of the Company's surgeons were accused of performing
unnecessary surgeries at the 269-bed Redding, California
facility late last year.  The United States Justice Department
started a criminal and civil investigation against the center's
director of cardiology Chae Hyun Moon and its chairman of
cardiac surgery Fidel Realyvasquez.

In August, the Company, which owns and operates 101 acute care
hospitals, agreed to pay $54 million to settle the allegations.
That settlement did not include an admission of wrongdoing by
Santa Barbara, California-based firm but left open the
possibility that Medicare would exclude Redding.  The Company
also faces investigations related to how it billed Medicare for
the sickest patients and an indictment against one of its
hospitals in the San Diego area for physician recruiting
violations.

It was the first time a company has agreed to sell a hospital so
it would not lose federal health care funds, according to
officials from the Office of Inspector General, an agency in the
Department of Health and Human Services, Reuters reports.  Most
U.S. hospitals derive a substantial portion of their revenue
from Medicare, which provides health coverage for 41 million US
senior citizens and disabled people.

In a letter to Redding Medical employees, Tenet Chief Executive
Trevor Fetter said, "Exclusion would have been catastrophic for
the hospital and could even have forced it to close," Reuters
states.  The Company is seeking a buyer for center and expects
to complete the sale by mid-2004.  The government will suspend
its Medicare exclusion proceeding while Tenet finds a buyer and
will not continue it once the hospital is sold, the company
said.

Selling Redding Medical "is the saddest task I have faced since
I became chief executive officer of Tenet," Mr. Fetter said in
the letter, Reuters states.  He said he would have preferred the
opportunity to restore the hospital's reputation.


TYSON FOODS: Certification Granted In OK Environmental Lawsuit
--------------------------------------------------------------
The District Court in Mayes County, Oklahoma on Thursday granted
certification of two separate classes consisting of all
lakefront property owners on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees in
northeastern Oklahoma.

Plaintiffs in the class action allege claims for common law
public and private nuisance against defendants, Tyson Foods,
Inc., Simmons Foods, Inc., and Peterson Farms, Inc.  Each of the
three defendants is a poultry company with headquarters in
Arkansas.  The Plaintiffs claim environmental harm related to
discharges and runoffs of wastes from defendants' contract
poultry and processing operations.  One class seeks an
injunction against the defendants, and the other class seeks
money damages for impairment to the value of class members'
lakefront properties.

Attorneys for the certified classes stated in reaction to the
Court's ruling: "We're very pleased with the Court's decision
today to allow this action to move forward on a class-wide
basis."

The classes were certified after an extensive three-day
evidentiary hearing, which included expert and factual
testimony.  Plaintiffs' counsel stated that: "We look forward to
serving the interests of the Grand Lake property owners and are
optimistic about our chances for success on the merits of the
classes' claims."

Class counsel appointed by the Court include the New York law
firms of Seeger Weiss LLP, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach
LLP, and Kennedy & Madonna, LLP; Shipley & Kellogg, P.C. of
Tulsa, Oklahoma; Whatley Drake, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama; and
The Speer Law Firm of Overland Park, Kansas.

The style of the case in Mayes County District Court is R. Lynn
Thompson et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., Case No. CJ-01-
452.


WAL-MART STORES: Recalls Candles For Potential Fire/ Burn Hazard
----------------------------------------------------------------
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas, in cooperation
with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is
recalling 69,804 units of the Snow House Candle gift set; 29,064
units of the Snowman Candle gift set; 62,428 units of the
Snowflake Candle gift set, from the Home Trends Ice Holiday
Collection Candle gift set, since paint on the exterior surface
of the candles could potentially sustain flame posing a
potential fire hazard.  No injuries or incidents have been
reported to Wal-Mart.

Each Home Trends Ice Holiday Collection Candle gift set contains
three candles with one of these scenes painted on the exterior:
Snow House Winter; Snowman; or Snowflake design.  The Candle
gift sets, manufactured by Qingdao Kingking Applied Chemistry
Co., Ltd., in China, were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide
from September 2003 through November 2003 for about $10.

Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return
the candle gift set to Wal-Mart for a full refund. For more
information, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 am and
9 pm CT Monday through Friday. Media Contact: Melissa Berryhill
at (479) 273-4314.


WASHINGTON: Judge Dismisses Foster Care Lawsuit V. Clark County
---------------------------------------------------------------
Skamania County Superior Court Judge Tom Reynolds, on Thursday,
dismissed a lawsuit alleging Clark County has failed to provide
adequate legal assistance to poor parents whose children have
been placed in state foster care, the Columbian reports.

Ernest Edsel, a Vancouver attorney, filed the class action in
Clark County Superior Court in April on behalf of a woman who is
a lifelong county resident.  She lost custody of her son five
years ago when he became a dependent of the state.

Judge Reynolds ruled that although the county has a duty to
provide court-appointed attorneys in dependency cases, it does
not have the duty or authority to tell those attorneys how to do
their jobs.

Bronson Potter, a Clark County deputy prosecutor, said he was
not surprised by the ruling.  "It's pretty easy for someone to
sue and make a bunch of allegations," he told the Columbian.
"But this was a hearing where they had to bring evidence and
back up all those allegations, and they didn't do that."

                   New Securities Fraud Cases

AEROSONIC CORPORATION: Charles Piven Files Securities Suit in FL
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. initiated a securities
class action in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida against Aerosonic Corporation and certain of
its officers and/or directors, on behalf of shareholders who
purchased, converted, exchanged or otherwise acquired the common
stock of the Company between May 3, 1999 and March 17, 2003,
inclusive.

The action charges that defendants violated federal securities
laws by issuing a series of materially false and misleading
statements to the market throughout the Class Period which
statements had the effect of artificially inflating the market
price of the Company's securities.

For more information, contact Charles J. Piven, by Mail: The
World Trade Center-Baltimore, 401 East Pratt Street, Suite 2525,
Baltimore, Maryland 21202, by Phone: 410/986-0036, or by E-mail:
hoffman@pivenlaw.com.


AEROSONIC CORPORATION: Lasky Rifkind Files Securities Suit in FL
----------------------------------------------------------------
The law firm of Lasky & Rifkind, Ltd., initiated a class action
lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida against Aerosonic and certain officers and
directors, on behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise
acquired publicly traded securities of Aerosonic Corporation
between November 13, 1998 to March 17, 2003, inclusive.

The complaint alleges that Defendants artificially inflated the
price of Aerosonic shares during the Class Period.
Specifically, on March 17, 2003 Defendants revealed that what
appeared to be certain discrepancies in previously reported
financial information concerning inventory accounting and
revenue recognition.  The market reacted negatively to this
news, sending the share price of Aerosonic 24% lower to $3.32
per share.

For more information, call: (800) 495-1868 to speak with an
advisor.


AEROSONIC CORPORATION: Kirby McInerney Launches Stock Suit in FL
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kirby McInerney & Squire, LLP initiated a securities class
action in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida, on behalf of all purchasers of Aerosonic
Corporation securities during the period from November 13, 1998
through March 17, 2003, inclusive.

The action charges Aerosonic and certain of its senior officers
with violations of Sections 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The alleged violations stem
from the dissemination of false and misleading statements, which
had the effect - during the Class Period - of artificially
inflating the price of Aerosonic's shares.

On March 17, 2003, Defendants announced that they had discovered
what appeared to be certain discrepancies in previously-reported
financial information concerning inventory accounting and
revenue recognition.  The market reacted swiftly and severely to
this news, with the Company's stock falling 24%, or $3.32 per
share from a high of $13.32 per share on March 17, 2003 to close
at $10.10 per share on March 18, 2003.

For more information, contact Pamela E. Kulsrud, or Elaine Mui,
by Mail: 830 Third Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10022,
by Phone: (212) 317-2300 or Toll Free (888) 529-4787, or by E-
mail: emui@kmslaw.com.


ALKERMES INC: Goodkind Labaton Commences Securities Suit in MA
--------------------------------------------------------------
Goodkind Labaton Rudoff & Sucharow LLP initiated a securities
class action in the United States District Court for the
District of Massachusetts, on behalf of persons who purchased or
otherwise acquired publicly traded securities of Alkermes Inc.
between April 22, 1999 and July 1, 2002, inclusive.

During the Class Period, Defendants artificially inflated the
price of Alkermes shares by issuing a series of false and
misleading statements about the Company's new drug application
for Risperdal Consta.  The true facts, which were known by
Defendants but were concealed from the investing public, include
that the company in an attempt to lessen development expenses
and speed the product to market, concealed the deficient nature
of the manufacturing process for Medisorb polylactide-glycolide
polymer used to manufacture Risperdal Consta, which resulted in
quality management issues and delays in the product's
development program.

As a result of the Defendants false statements, Alkermes stock
traded at inflated prices during the Class Period, increasing to
a high of $70.06 on February 16, 2000, whereby the company
issued $200 million worth of its own securities. On July 1,
2002, Defendants announced that they received a non-approvable
letter from the FDA.  As a result of this announcement,
Alkermes' share price dropped significantly over the following
two days to $4.04, losing 93% of their value.

For more information, contact Christopher Keller, by Phone:
800-321-0476, or by E-mail: investorrelations@glrslaw.com.


CAREER EDUCATION: Schiffrin & Barroway Launches Stock Suit in IL
----------------------------------------------------------------
The law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP, initiated a class
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois on behalf of all purchasers of the
common stock of Career Education Corporation from January 28,
2003 through December 2, 2003, inclusive, against the the
Company, John M. Larson, and Patrick K. Pesch

According to the lawsuit, defendants violated Sections 10(b) and
20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder.  More specifically, the complaint
alleges that the defendants' statements made during the Class
Period were materially false and misleading because they failed
to disclose and/or misrepresented the following adverse facts,
among others:

     (1) that the Company's "record" financial growth was a
         product of inflated student enrollment, retention, and
         graduation rates procured through the falsification of
         such records;

     (2) that student records were falsified in order to show a
         higher rate of enrollment, student retention, and
         graduation so that the Company would qualify for state
         and federal funding;

     (3) that Company, in order to procure its "record"
         financial results, forced its employees to falsify
         student records; and

     (4) that the Company's earning and net income were
         materially inflated and in violation of Generally
         Accepted Accounting Principles because the Company's
         financial results were derived from the defendants'
         illegal practices.

The truth behind the Company's "record" growth during the Class
Period began to emerge on November 11, 2003 when The Record, a
Bergen County, New Jersey newspaper, reported that a former
director of Gibbs College, a school owned by the defendants, had
filed a lawsuit against the Company.  The former director
accused the Company of falsifying student records in order to
show a high rate of student retention and graduation, and to
qualify for state and federal funding.  On news of this, the
Company's stock fell more than 13% or $7.10 per share on
November 17, 2003 to close at $45.81.

Similarly on December 3, 2003, The Santa Barbara News-Press
reported that another former employee at a school owned by the
defendants had filed another lawsuit wherein she claimed that
"officials at the school acted illegally and improperly to
inflate enrollment and boost the bottom line."  The former
employee also alleged that "(m)any staff members have been asked
by management to commit forgery, fraud, perjury or whatever else
is necessary to pass audit inspections."

On news of this, shares of Career Education fell nearly 28% or
$15.28 per share to close at $39.48 per share on December 3,
2003.

For more information, contact Marc A. Topaz, or Stuart L.
Berman, by Phone: toll free at 1-888-299-7706 or 1-610-667-7706,
or by E-mail: info@sbclasslaw.com.


CERUS CORPORATION: Schiffrin & Barroway Lodges Stock Suit in CA
---------------------------------------------------------------
Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP, initiated a class action lawsuit in
the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California on behalf of all purchasers of the common stock of
Cerus Corporation from October 25, 2000 through September 3,
2003, inclusive, against the Company and:

     (1) Stephen T. Isaacs,

     (2) Gregory W. Schafer,

     (3) David N. Cook,

     (4) John E. Hearst, and,

     (5) Howard G. Ervin

According to the lawsuit, defendants violated Sections 10(b) and
20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder, by issuing a series of material
misrepresentations to the market between October 25, 2003 and
September 3, 2003.

More specifically, the Complaint alleges that the defendants'
statements were materially false and misleading because they
failed to disclose and/or misrepresented the following adverse
facts, among others:

     (i) that defendants knew that red blood cells treated with
         S-303, the compound used in the Company's Intercept RBC
         would develop anti-bodies, thus rending Intercept RBC
         ineffectual;

    (ii) that the defendants knew but concealed this information
         from the investing public and federal regulators in
         order to obtain regulatory approval to market Intercept
         RBC; and

   (iii) as a result of the adverse effects of S-303, the
         compound used in the Company's Intercept RBC, the
         defendants knew but failed to disclose that any adverse
         immune response to S-303 would be result in significant
         delays and/or termination of the Company's Intercept
         RBC clinical trials.

On September 4, 2003, Cerus announced that it was voluntarily
halting Phase III trials for their pathogen-inactivated red
blood cell program (Intercept RBC). The Company made this
decision as a precautionary measure after two study patients
developed antibodies to red blood cells treated with S-303, the
compound used in the companies' investigational pathogen
inactivation system for red blood cells. News of this shocked
the market with shares of Cerus common stock falling 31.37% or
$2.41 per share to close at $5.29 per share on extremely heavy
volume on September 4, 2003.

For more information, contact Marc A. Topaz, or Stuart L.
Berman, by Phone: toll free 1-888-299-7706 or 1-610-667-7706, or
by E-mail: info@sbclasslaw.com.


INVESCO FUNDS: Alfred Yates Launches Securities Fraud Suit in CO
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Office of Alfred G. Yates, Jr. PC, initiated a
securities class action in the United States District Court for
the District of Colorado on behalf of purchasers of the
securities of the INVESCO family of funds operated by London-
based AMVESCAP PLC and its subsidiary INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.,
between December 5, 1998 and November 24, 2003, inclusive,
seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940.

The action, numbered 03 CV 2456, is pending before the Honorable
Edward W. Nottingham, against AMVESCAP, INVESCO Funds Group,
Raymond Cunningham, Timothy Miller, Thomas Kolbe, American
Skandia, Inc., Brean Murray & Co., Inc., Canary Capital
Partners, LLC, Canary Investment Management, LLC, Canary Capital
Partners, Ltd., Edward J. Stern, each of the INVESCO mutual
funds and their registrants, and John Does 1-100.

The Funds, and the symbols for the respective Funds named below,
are as follows:

     (1) INVESCO Advantage Health Sciences Fund (Sym: IAGHX,
         IGHBX, IGHCX)

     (2) INVESCO Advantage Fund (Sym: IADAX, IADBX, IADCX)

     (3) INVESCO Latin American Growth Fund (Sym: IVSLX)

     (4) INVESCO Core Equity Fund (Sym: ICEAX, ICEBX, IINCX,
         FIIIX, IEIKX)

     (5) INVESCO Dynamics Fund (Sym: IDYAX, IDYBX, IFDCX, FIDYX,
         IDYKX)

     (6) INVESCO Energy Fund (Sym: IENAX, IENBX, IEFCX, FSTEX,
         IENKX)

     (7) INVESCO Financial Services Fund (Sym: IFSAX, IFSBX,
         IFSCX, FSFSX, FSFKX)

     (8) INVESCO Gold & Precious Metals Fund (Sym: IGDAX, IGDBX,
         IGDCX, FGLDX)

     (9) INVESCO Health Sciences Fund (Sym: IAHSX, IBHSX, IHSCX,
         FHLSX, IHSKX)

    (10) INVESCO International Core Equity Fund (formerly known
         as International Blue Chip Value Fund) (Sym: IBVAX,
         IBVBX, IBVCX, IIBCX)

    (11) INVESCO Leisure Fund (Sym: ILSAX, LSBX, IVLCX, FLISX,
         ILEKX)

    (12) INVESCO Mid-Cap Growth Fund (Sym: IMGAX, IMGBX, IMGCX,
         IVMIX)

    (13) INVESCO Multi-Sector Fund (Sym: IAMSX, IBMSX, ICMSX,
         ICMSX)

    (14) AIM INVESCO S&P Index Fund (Sym: ISPIX)

    (15) INVESCO Small Company Growth Fund (Sym: ISGAX, ISGBX,
         ISGCX FIEGX ISCKX)

    (16) INVESCO Technology Fund (Sym: ITYAX, ITYBX, ITHCX,
         FTCHX, ITHKX)

    (17) INVESCO Total Return Fund (Sym: IATRX, IBTRX, ITRCX,
         FSFLX)

    (18) INVESCO Utilities Fund (Sym: IAUTX, IBUTX, IUTCX,
         ISTUX)

    (19) AIM INVESCO Cash Reserves Fund (currently known as AIM
         Money Market Fund) (New symbol: AIMXX)

    (20) AIM INVESCO Tax-Free Money Fund (Sym: FFRXX)

    (21) AIM INVESCO Treasurers Money Market Reserve Fund (Sym:
         IMRXX)

    (22) AIM INVESCO Treasurers Tax-Exempt Reserve Fund (Sym:
         ITTXX)

    (23) AIM INVESCO US Government Money Fund (Sym: FUGXX)

    (24) INVESCO Advantage Fund (Sym: IADAX, IADBX, IADCX)

    (25) INVESCO Balanced Fund (Sym: IBLAX, IBLBX, IBNCX, IBFIX,
         IMABX, IBLKX)

    (26) INVESCO European Fund (Sym: IEUAX, IEUBX, FEURX, IEUKX)

    (27) INVESCO Growth Fund (Sym: IAGWX, IBGWX, IBGCX, FLRFX,
         IGWKX)

    (28) INVESCO High-Yield Fund (Sym: IAHYX, IBHYX, IHYCX
         FHYPX, IHYKX)

    (29) INVESCO Growth & Income Fund, (Sym: IGIAX, IGIBX,
         IGRCX, IVGIX, IGIKX)

    (30) INVESCO Real Estate Opportunity Fund (Sym: IAREX,
         IBREX, IRECX, IVSRX)

    (31) INVESCO Select Income Fund (Sym: IASIX, IBSIX, ISICX,
         FBDSX)

    (32) INVESCO Tax-Free Bond Fund (Sym: IXBAX, IXBBX, ITFCX,
         FTIFX)

    (33) INVESCO Telecommunications Fund (Sym: ITLAX, ITLBX,
         INTCX, ISWCX, ITEKX)

    (34) INVESCO U.S. Government Securities Fund (Sym :IGVAX,
         IGVBX, IUGCX, FBDGX)

    (35) INVESCO Value Fund (Sym: IAVEX, IBVEX, IVACX, FSEQX)

The Complaint alleges that defendants violated Sections 11 and
15 of the Securities Act of 1933; Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated
thereunder; and Section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.  The complaint charges that, throughout the Class Period,
certain of the defendants failed to disclose that they
improperly allowed certain favored investors, including Canary,
clients of American Skandia, and Brean Murray to engage in "late
trading" and/or "timing" of the Funds' securities.

Late trades are trades received after 4:00 p.m. EST that are
filled based on that day's net asset value, as opposed to being
filled based on the next day's net asset value, which is the
proper procedure under SEC regulations.

The Complaint alleges that in return for receiving extra fees
from Canary, clients of American Skandia, and Brean Murray, and
other favored investors, AMVESCAP, INVESCO Funds Group and its
affiliates allowed and facilitated timing and late trading
activities in the Funds, to the detriment of class members, who
paid, dollar for dollar, for improper profits made by Canary,
clients of American Skandia, and Brean Murray.

According to the Complaint, these practices were undisclosed in
the prospectuses of the Funds, which falsely represented that
the Funds actively police against timing and represented that
post-4 P.M. EST trades will be priced based on the next day's
net asset value and that premature redemptions will be assessed
a charge.

For more information, contact the firm by Phone: 1-800-391-5164
or 412-391-5164, or by E-mail: yateslaw@aol.com.


MFS FUNDS: Cauley Geller Commences Securities Fraud Suit in MA
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cauley Geller Bowman & Rudman, LLP initiated a class action
lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts on behalf of purchasers of shares of the MFS
Mutual Funds, which are managed by Massachusetts Financial
Services, a subsidiary of Sun Life Financial, Inc., during the
period between December 15, 1998 and December 8, 2003,
inclusive.

The following MFS Mutual Funds are subject to this lawsuit:

     (1) MFS Capital Opportunities Fund,

     (2) MFS Core Growth Fund,

     (3) MFS Emerging Growth Fund,

     (4) MFS Growth Opportunities Fund,

     (5) MFS Large Cap Growth Fund,

     (6) MFS Managed Sectors Fund,

     (7) MFS Mid Cap Growth Fund,

     (8) MFS New Discovery Fund,

     (9) MFS New Endeavor Fund,

    (10) MFS Research Fund,

    (11) MFS Strategic Growth Fund,

    (12) MFS Technology Fund,

    (13) Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock,

    (14) MFS Mid Cap Value Fund,

    (15) MFS Research Growth and Income Fund,

    (16) MFS Strategic Value Fund,

    (17) MFS Total Return Fund,

    (18) MFS Union Standard Equity Fund,

    (19) MFS Utilities Fund,

    (20) MFS Value Fund,

    (21) Massachusetts Investors Trust,

    (22) MFS Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund,

    (23) MFS Conservative Allocation Fund,

    (24) MFS Growth Allocation Fund,

    (25) MFS Moderate Allocation Fund,

    (26) MFS Bond Fund,

    (27) MFS Emerging Markets Debt Fund,

    (28) MFS Government Limited Maturity Fund,

    (29) MFS Government Mortgage Fund,

    (30) MFS Government Securities Fund,

    (31) MFS High Income Fund,

    (32) MFS High Yield Opportunities Fund,

    (33) MFS Intermediate Investment Grade Bond Fund,

    (34) MFS Limited Maturity Fund,

    (35) MFS Research Bond Fund,

    (36) MFS Strategic Income Fund,

    (37) MFS Alabama Municipal Bond Fund,

    (38) MFS Arkansas Municipal Bond Fund,

    (39) MFS California Municipal Bond Fund,

    (40) MFS Florida Municipal Bond Fund,

    (41) MFS Georgia Municipal Bond Fund,

    (42) MFS Maryland Municipal Bond Fund,

    (43) MFS Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund,

    (44) MFS Mississippi Municipal Bond Fund,

    (45) MFS Municipal Bond Fund,

    (46) MFS Municipal Limited Maturity Fund,

    (47) MFS New York Municipal Bond Fund,

    (48) MFS North Carolina Municipal Bond Fund,

    (49) MFS Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund,

    (50) MFS South Carolina Municipal Bond Fund,

    (51) MFS Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund,

    (52) MFS Virginia Municipal Bond Fund,

    (53) MFS West Virginia Municipal Bond Fund,

    (54) MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund,

    (55) MFS Global Equity Fund,

    (56) MFS Global Growth Fund,

    (57) MFS Global Total Return Fund,

    (58) MFS International Growth Fund,

    (59) MFS International New Discovery Fund,

    (60) MFS International Value Fund, and

    (61) MFS Research International Fund

The complaint charges Massachusetts Financial Services Company,
MFS Investment Management, Sun Life Financial, Inc. MFS Series
Trust I, MFS Series Trust II, MFS Series Trust III, MFS Series
Trust IV, MFS Series Trust V, MFS Series Trust VI, MFS Series
Trust VII, MFS Series Trust VIII, MFS Series Trust IX, MFS
Series Trust X, MFS Series Trust XI, MFS Mutual Funds, and the
Doe Defendants with violations of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, among other claims, and for
common law breach of fiduciary duties.

The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period the
defendants engaged in illegal and improper trading practices, in
concert with certain institutional traders, which caused
financial injury to the shareholders of the MFS Mutual Funds.
According to the Complaint, the Defendants surreptitiously
permitted certain favored investors, including the Doe
Defendants, to illegally engage in "timing" of the MFS Mutual
Funds whereby these favored investors were permitted to conduct
short-term, "in and out" trading of mutual fund shares, despite
explicit restrictions on such activity in the MFS Mutual Funds'
prospectuses.

For more information, contact Jackie Addison, Heather Gann or
Chandra West, Client Relations Department, by Mail: P.O. Box
25438, Little Rock, AR, by Phone: 72221-5438, or 1-888-551-9944
(toll free), by Fax: 1-501-312-8505, or by E-mail:
info@cauleygeller.com.


MORGAN STANLEY: Charles Piven Files Securities Suit in S.D. NY
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Offices Of Charles J. Piven, P.A. initiated a class
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of certain
Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen Mutual Funds from October 1, 1999
through December 31, 2002.

The conduct alleged in the lawsuit may have impacted the value
of one or more of the following funds:

     (1) Morgan Stanley 21st Century Trend Fund (TCTAX, TCTBX,
         TCTCX, TCTDX)

     (2) Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund (AEQAX, AEQBX,
         AEQCX, AEQDX)

     (3) Morgan Stanley All Star Growth Fund (ALLAX, ALLBX,
         ALLCX, ALLDX)

     (4) Morgan Stanley American Opportunities Fund (AMOAX,
         AMOBX, AMOCX, AMODX)

     (5) Morgan Stanley Biotechnology Fund (BTKAX, BTKBX, BTKCX,
         BTKDX)

     (6) Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust (CPOAX,
         CPOBX, CPOCX, CPODX)

     (7) Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities (DGRAX,
         DGRBX, DGRCX, DGRDX)

     (8) Morgan Stanley Financial Services Trust (FSVAX, FSVBX,
         FSVCX, FSVDX)

     (9) Morgan Stanley Growth Fund (GRTAX, GRTBX, GRTCX, GRTDX)

    (10) Morgan Stanley Health Sciences Trust (HCRAX, HCRBX,
         HCRCX, HCRDX)

    (11) Morgan Stanley Information Fund (IFOAX, IFOBX, IFOCX,
         IFODX)

    (12) Morgan Stanley KLD Social Index Fund (SIXAX, SIXBX,
         SIXCX, SIXDX)

    (13) Morgan Stanley Market Leader Trust (MLDAX, MLDBX,
         MLDCX, MLDDX)

    (14) Morgan Stanley Mid-Cap Value Fund (MDFAX, MDFBX, MDFCX,
         MDFDX)

    (15) Morgan Stanley Nasdaq-100 Index Fund (NSQAX, NSQBX,
         NSQCX, NSQDX)

    (16) Morgan Stanley Natural Resource Development Securities
         (NREAX, NREBX, NRECX, NREDX)

    (17) Morgan Stanley New Discoveries Fund (NDFAX, NDFBX,
         NDFCX, NDFDX)

    (18) Morgan Stanley Next Generation Trust (NGTAX, NGTBX,
         NGTCX, NGTDX)

    (19) Morgan Stanley Small-Mid Special Value Fund (JBJAX,
         JBJBX, JBJCX, JBJDX)

    (20) Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund (SMPAX, SMPBX,
         SMPCX, SMPD)

    (21) Morgan Stanley Special Value Fund (SVFAX, SVFBX, SVFCX,
         SVFDX)

    (22) Morgan Stanley Tax-Managed Growth Fund (TGXAX, TGXBX,
         TGXCX, TGXDX)

    (23) Morgan Stanley Technology Fund (TEKAX, TEKBX, TEKCX,
         TEKDX)

    (24) Morgan Stanley European Growth Fund (EUGAX, EUGBX,
         EUGCX, EUGDX)

    (25) Morgan Stanley Fund of Funds - International Portfolio
         (IOFBX, IOFCX, IOFDX)

    (26) Morgan Stanley Global Advantage Fund, (GADAX, GADBX,
         GADCX, GADDX)

    (27) Morgan Stanley Global Dividend Growth Securities
         (GLBAX, GLBBX, GLBCX, GLBDX)

    (28) Morgan Stanley Global Utilities Fund (GUTAX, GUTBX,
         GUTCX, GUTDX)

    (29) Morgan Stanley International Fund (INLAX, INLBX, INLCX,
         INLDX)

    (30) Morgan Stanley International Smallcap Fund (ISMAX,
         SMBX, ISMCX, ISMDX)

    (31) Morgan Stanley International Value Equity Fund (IVQAX,
         IVQBX, IVQCX, IVQDX)

    (32) Morgan Stanley Japan Fund (JPNAX, JPNBX, JPNCX, JPNDX)

    (33) Morgan Stanley Latin American Growth Fund (LATAX,
         LATBX, LATCX, LATDX)

    (34) Morgan Stanley Pacific Growth Fund (TGRAX, TGRBX,
         TGRCX, TGRDX)

    (35) Morgan Stanley Allocator Fund (ALRAX, ALRBX, ALRCX,
         ALRDX)

    (36) Morgan Stanley Balanced Growth Fund (BGRAX, BGRBX,
         BGRCX, BGRDX)

    (37) Morgan Stanley Balanced Income Fund, (BINAX, BINBX,
         BINCX, BINDX)

    (38) Morgan Stanley Convertible Securities Trust, (CNSAX,
         CNSBX, CNSCX, CNSDX)

    (39) Morgan Stanley Dividend Growth Securities, (DIVAX,
         DIVBX, DIVCX, DIVDX)

    (40) Morgan Stanley Equity Fund (EQFAX, EQFBX, EQFCX, EQFDX)

    (41) Morgan Stanley Fund of Funds - Domestic Portfolio
         (DOFAX, DOFBX, DOFCX, DOFDX)

    (42) Morgan Stanley Fundamental Value Fund (FVFAX, FVFBX,
         FVFCX, FVFDX)

    (43) Morgan Stanley Income Builder Fund, (INBAX, INBBX,
         INBCX, INBDX)

    (44) Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund (REFAX, REFBX, REFCX,
         REFDX)

    (45) Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index Fund (SPIAX, SPIBX, SPICX,
         SPIDX)

    (46) Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund (SRTAX, SRTBX, SRTCX,
         SRTDX)

    (47) Morgan Stanley Total Market Index Fund (TMIAX, TMIBX,
         TMICX, TMIDX)

    (48) Morgan Stanley Total Return Trust (TRFAX, TRFBX, TRFCX,
         TRFDX)

    (49) Morgan Stanley Utilities Fund (UTLAX, UTLBX, UTLCX,
         UTLDX)

    (50) Morgan Stanley Value Fund (VLUAX, VLUBX, VLUCX, VLUDX)

    (51) Morgan Stanley Value-Added Market Series/Equity
         Portfolio (VADAX, VADBX, VADCX, VADDX)

    (52) Morgan Stanley Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
         (AACXX)

    (53) Morgan Stanley Active Assets Government Securities
         Trust (AAGXX)

    (54) Morgan Stanley Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
         (AVIXX)

    (55) Morgan Stanley Active Assets Money Trust (AAMXX)

    (56) Morgan Stanley Active Assets Tax-Free Trust (AATXX)

    (57) Morgan Stanley Flexible Income Trust (DINAX, DINBX,
         DINCX, DINDX,)

    (58) Morgan Stanley Federal Securities Trust (FDLAX, FDLBX,
         FDLCX, FDLDX)

    (59) Morgan Stanley High Yield Securities (HYLAX, HYLBX,
         HYLCX, HYLDX)

    (60) Morgan Stanley Quality Income Trust (IISAX, IISBX,
         IISCX, IISDX)

    (61) Morgan Stanley Limited Duration Fund (MSLDX)

    (62) Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Treasury Trust
         (LDTRX)

    (63) Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund (DWLXX)

    (64) Morgan Stanley Prime Income Trust (XPITX)

    (65) Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust
         (DWGXX)

    (66) Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Securities Trust (USGAX,
         USGBX, USGCX, USGDX)

    (67) Morgan Stanley California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
         (DSCXX)

    (68) Morgan Stanley California Tax-Free Income Fund (CLFAX,
         CLFBX, CLFCX, CLFDX)

    (69) Morgan Stanley Hawaii Municipal Trust (DWHIX)

    (70) Morgan Stanley Limited Term Municipal Trust (DWLTX)

    (71) Morgan Stanley Multi-State Municipal Series Trust,
         Arizona Series (DWAZX)

    (72) Morgan Stanley Multi-State Municipal Series Trust,
         Florida Series (DWFLX)

    (73) Morgan Stanley Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, New
         Jersey Series (DWNJX)

    (74) Morgan Stanley Multi-State Municipal Series Trust,
         Pennsylvania Series (DWPAX)

    (75) Morgan Stanley New York Municipal Money Market Trust
         (DWNXX)

    (76) Morgan Stanley New York Tax-Free Income Fund (NYFAX,
         NYFBX, NYFCX, NYFDX)

    (77) Morgan Stanley Tax-Exempt Securities Trust (TAXAX,
         TAXBX, TAXCX, TAXDX)

    (78) Morgan Stanley Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (DSTXX)

    (79) Van Kampen Advantage Municipal Income Trust (VKA)

    (80) Van Kampen Advantage Municipal Income Trust II (VKI)

    (81) Van Kampen Advantage Pennsylvania Municipal Income
         Trust (VAP)

    (82) Van Kampen Bond Fund (IOBIX, VBF)

    (83) Van Kampen California Municipal Trust (VKC)

    (84) Van Kampen California Quality Municipal Trust (VQC)

    (85) Van Kampen California Value Municipal Income Trust
         (VCV)

    (86) Van Kampen Comstock Fund (ACSTX, ACSWX, ACSYX, ACSRX)

    (87) Van Kampen Convertible Securities Fund (VXS)

    (88) Van Kampen Corporate Bond Fund (ACCBX, ACCDX, ACCEX)

    (89) Van Kampen Emerging Growth Fund (ACEGX, ACEMX, ACEFX,
         ACEEX)

    (90) Van Kampen Enterprise Fund (ACENX, ACEOX, ACEPX)

    (91) Van Kampen Equity & Income Fund (ACEIX, ACEQX, ACERX,
         ACESX)

    (92) Van Kampen Florida Municipal Opportunity Trust (VMO)

    (93) Van Kampen Florida Quality Municipal Trust (VFM)

    (94) Van Kampen Government Securities Fund (ACGSX, ACGTX,
         ACGVX)

    (95) Van Kampen Growth & Income Fund (ACGIX, ACGJX, ACGKX,
         ACGLX)

    (96) Van Kampen Harbor Fund (ACHBX, ACHAX, ACHCX)

    (97) Van Kampen High Income Corporate Bond Fund (ACHYX,
         ACHZX, ACHWX)

    (98) Van Kampen Income Trust (VIN)

    (99) Van Kampen High Income Trust (VIT)

   (100) Van Kampen Investment Grade Municipal Trust (VIG)

   (101) Van Kampen Limited Maturity Government Fund (ACFMX,
         ACFTX, ACFWX)

   (102) Van Kampen High Income Trust II (VLT)

   (103) Van Kampen Massachusetts Value Municipal (VMV)

   (104) Van Kampen Municipal Income Trust (VMT)

The lawsuit alleges that Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley DW Inc.,
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc., Morgan Stanley
Investments LP., Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc., Van Kampen
Investment Advisory Corp., Van Kampen Asset Management Inc., and
Van Kampen Funds Inc., violated the Securities Act of 1933, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of
1940,and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and breached common
law fiduciary duties for failing to properly disclose that
Morgan Stanley had been aggressively prompting its brokers to
sell Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen mutual funds instead of other
mutual funds.  The lawsuit further alleges that this practice
was carried out through a series of contests whereby brokers who
sold the most of these funds were awarded various prizes and
non-cash compensation.

The lawsuit further alleges that advisors to the funds (Morgan
Stanley Investment Advisors, Inc., Morgan Stanley Advisors LP,
Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corporation, and Van Kampen Asset
Management Inc.) paid excessive commissions, directly or
indirectly, to MSDW, the broker dealer, which came out of the
funds' assets, as payments to MSDW for steering clients towards
Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen's funds.

The lawsuit also alleges that the advisors (and their parent,
Morgan Stanley) profited from this scheme by earning increased
management fees and that MSDW (and its parent Morgan Stanley)
benefited from increased commissions generated by this scheme.

For more information, contact Charles J. Piven, P.A., by Mail:
The World Trade Center-Baltimore, 401 East Pratt Street, Suite
2525, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, by Phone: 410/986-0036, or by
E-mail: hoffman@pivenlaw.com.





PMA CAPITAL: Marc Henzel Commences Securities Suit in E.D. PA
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Law Offices of Marc S. Henzel initiated a class action
lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania on behalf of all persons who purchased
the securities of PMA Capital Corporation between November 13,
1998 and November 3, 2003 seeking remedies under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, on behalf of all persons who purchased
securities of PMA issued in public offerings dated October 16,
2002, 4.25% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2022, and June 5,
2003, 8.5% Monthly Income Senior Notes due 2018, seeking
remedies under Sections 11, 12 (a), 20 and 15 of the Securities
Act of 1933.

On November 4, 2003, before the market opened, PMA disclosed in
a press release and a concurrent SEC filing on Form 8-K, that it
would record a pre-tax charge of $150 million primarily to
compensate for PMA Re's inadequate loss reserves. Defendants
stated that an internal review of the Company's reserves
revealed that the material charge "relates to higher than
expected underwriting losses in PMA Re's reinsurance operations,
primarily from casualty business written in accident years 1997
to 2000."

As a result of this charge, the Company suspended its common
stock dividend, and has engaged Banc of America Securities LLC
to explore "strategic alternatives." On the same day, PMA
announced that it was in discussions with the Pennsylvania
Insurance Department over the Company's insurance operations.
Immediately following this announcement, the price of PMA common
stock plummeted $8.11, or 61.7 percent, from its previous day's
trading, to close at $5.03 per share. On November 6, 2003, PMA
revealed that the write down will effectively force the Company
to withdraw from the reinsurance business, and that defendant
John W. Smithson had resigned as President and Chief Executive
Officer of PMA.

For more information, contact Marc S. Henzel, by Mail: 273
Montgomery Ave, Suite 202 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-2808, by Phone:
(888) 643-6735 or (610) 660-8000, by fax: (610) 660-8080, by E-
mail: Mhenzel182@aol.com, or visit the firm's Website:
http://members.aol.com/mhenzel182.



PUTNAM FUNDS: Spector, Roseman Lodges Securities Suit in S.D. NY
----------------------------------------------------------------
Spector, Roseman & Kodroff, P.C. initiated a securities class
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, on behalf of all persons or
entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Putnam Family of
Funds, between November 1, 1998 and September 3, 2003,
inclusive, against Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Putnam
Investments Trust, Putnam Investment Management LLC, Putnam
Investment Funds, each of the Funds, and John Does 1-100.

The Funds, and the symbols for the respective Funds named below,
are as follows:

     (1) Putnam American Government Income Fund

     (2) Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund

     (3) Putnam Asset Allocation: Balanced Portfolio

     (4) Putnam Asset Allocation: Conservative Portfolio

     (5) Putnam Asset Allocation: Growth Portfolio (Sym: PAEAX)

     (6) Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund

     (7) Putnam Capital Appreciation Fund

     (8) Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund

     (9) Putnam Classic Equity Fund

    (10) Putnam Convertible Income-Growth Trust

    (11) Putnam Discovery Growth Fund

    (12) Putnam Diversified Income Trust

    (13) Putnam Equity Income Fund

    (14) Putnam Europe Equity Fund

    (15) Putnam Florida Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (16) Putnam Fund for Growth and Income (Sym: PGRWX)

    (17) George Putnam Fund of Boston

    (18) Putnam Global Equity Fund (Sym: PEQUX)

    (19) Putnam Global Income Trust

    (20) Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund

    (21) Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund (Sym: POGAX, POGBX,
         POGCX, PGOMX)

    (22) Putnam Health Sciences Trust

    (23) Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund

    (24) Putnam High Yield Trust

    (25) Putnam Income Fund

    (26) Putnam Intermediate U.S. Government Income Fund

    (27) Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund

    (28) Putnam International Equity Fund

    (29) Putnam International Growth and Income Fund

    (30) Putnam International New Opportunities Fund (Sym:
         PINOX)

    (31) Putnam Investors Fund

    (32) Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (33) Putnam Michigan Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (34) Putnam Mid Cap Value Fund

    (35) Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (36) Putnam Money Market Fund

    (37) Putnam Municipal Income Fund

    (38) Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (39) Putnam New Opportunities Fund

    (40) Putnam New Value Fund (Sym: PANVX)

    (41) Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (42) Putnam New York Tax Exempt Opportunities Fund

    (43) Putnam OTC & Emerging Growth Fund

    (44) Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (45) Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (46) Putnam Research Fund

    (47) Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund

    (48) Putnam Small Cap Value Fund

    (49) Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund

    (50) Putnam Tax Exempt Money Market Fund

    (51) Putnam Tax Smart Equity Fund

    (52) Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund

    (53) Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund

    (54) Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust

    (55) Putnam Utilities Growth and Income Fund

    (56) Putnam Vista Fund

    (57) Putnam Voyager Fund (Sym: PVOYX)

The Complaint alleges that defendants violated Sections 11 and
15 of the Securities Act of 1933; Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated
thereunder; Sections 36(a) and 36(b) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as well as common law fiduciary duties.
Specifically, the Complaint charges that throughout the Class
Period, defendants failed to disclose that they improperly
allowed certain investors (the John Doe defendants) to engage in
the "timing" of their transactions in the Funds' securities. In
return for receiving extra fees defendants allowed the John Doe
defendants to engage in timing, to the detriment of class
members, who paid, dollar for dollar, for the favored investors'
improper profits. These practices were undisclosed in the
prospectuses of the Funds, which falsely represented that the
Funds actively police against timing.

For more information, contact Robert M. Roseman, by Phone:
888-844-5862 (toll free), by E-mail: classaction@srk-law.com, or
visit the firm's Website: http://www.srk-law.com.


                        *********

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to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

The CAR subscription rate is $575 for six months delivered via
e-mail.  Additional e-mail subscriptions for members of the same
firm for the term of the initial subscription or balance thereof
are $25 each.  For subscription information, contact Christopher
Beard at 240/629-3300.

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