BUSINESS BRIEFS
Queen's CEO adds new duties
Advertiser Staff and News Services
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Arthur A. Ushijima, president and CEO of The Queen's Medical Center, has been given the additional responsibilities of president and CEO of The Queen's Health Systems by the system's board of trustees.
Ushijima's selection is part of a system-wide management reorganization designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness, The Queen's Health System said today in announcing Ushijima's selection.
Seven other Queen's executives and administrators also have been promoted or have been given expanded responsibilities, Queen's said.
JUDGE EXTENDS ALOHA HEARINGS
A federal judge has extended hearings on Aloha Airlines' plan to terminate its pension plans for more than 3,000 employees.
At the conclusion of yesterday's hearing, Federal Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris scheduled additional hearings for Nov. 8, 9 and 10. Faris has up to 30 days from Friday's start of the hearings to rule on the motion.
Aloha, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, said the concessions are necessary to attract a new investor.
FCC APPROVES PHONE MERGERS
WASHINGTON — Regulators agreed yesterday to approve SBC Communications' takeover of AT&T and Verizon Communications' purchase of MCI — deals that allow the nation's biggest phone companies to grow bigger — but with conditions.
By 4-0 votes, the Federal Communications Commission approved the multibillion-dollar mergers but required that SBC and Verizon freeze for 30 months the wholesale prices they charge competitors to lease certain high-capacity business lines.
MERCK DENIES LIABILITY IN DEATH
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Hammering away at a handful of key themes, a lawyer for Merck & Co. urged jurors yesterday to absolve the Vioxx manufacturer of liability for a heart attack suffered by an Idaho postal worker.
In closing arguments, Merck attorney Diane Sullivan said Frederick "Mike" Humeston wasn't taking the painkiller long enough to have been at risk and the drug company cannot be held accountable for his heart attack.
