Attorney General unsure about filing a lawsuit against Microsoft

April 4, 2000
By: Laetitia Thompson
State Capital Bureau

Following the federal ruling essentially branding Microsoft a criminal corporation...Missouri's Attorney General has not decided if he will pursue a lawsuit against the technology giant.

Laetitia Thompson has more from the state capitol.

Story:
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OutCue: SOC

Rather than join nineteen other states in the federal lawsuit...spokesman for the Attorney General Scott Holste says his office chose to watch and wait.

Actuality:HOLSTE1
RunTime: 17 SEC
OutCue: "TO JUMP IN ON THIS."
Contents: HOLSTE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS AT THE FOREFRONT AND THE STATE MONITORED WHAT WAS HAPPENING BUT DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS NECESSARY TO JUMP IN.

And when asked if a decision will be made before the November election... Holste said any theoretical timetable is impossible to make.


In the wake of a federal decision against Microsoft...Attorney General Jay Nixon has decided to watch and wait on filing a separate lawsuit against the software maker.

Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.

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According to spokesman Scott Holste... Nixon decided to delay rather than join nineteen other states in the federal lawsuit.

Now Holste says Nixon needs to determine if the decision in the federal lawsuit includes Missouri in any type of settlement.

If not then Holste says Nixon will still need to decide if a lawsuit is in the best interest of the state.

Actuality:HOLSTE
RunTime: 14 SEC
OutCue: "MONITORING THE SITUATION."
Contents: HOLSTE SAYS MISSOURI CONTINUES TO MONITOR ACTION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND IS GOING MONITOR THE SITUATION FURTHER.

Holste's office says it has no specific timetable for deciding if a lawsuit will be filed against Microsoft.

From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.


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