C 5b Airplane

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge Tuesday threw out the verdict awarding $45.3 million to three former Lockheed employees who had been fired after telling management that the firm's C-5B aircraft appeared defective and unsafe. Judge Harvey Schneider said he granted a new trial because one of the jurors failed to disclose that he had been convicted of a felony. The juror, Tresavan Owens, had said on a jury form that he had never been convicted of a felony.

Lockheed Corp. has paid about $7 million to quietly settle a civil lawsuit brought by three defense whistle-blowers, sharply paring a record $45.3-million jury verdict reached in 1990, according to confidential sources. Even with the reduction, the Lockheed payment ranks among the largest ever to individuals who claimed they were fired for alleging improper conduct by a defense contractor.

McDonnell Douglas said Friday that it will lay off 1,000 workers at its Douglas Aircraft unit in Long Beach, a move that comes amid enormous pressure on the corporation to curtail its costs and conserve cash. Undersecretary of Defense Donald J. Yockey has held up funding of the most recent Douglas contract for the C-17 cargo jet out of concern that the cost of future production will continue to grow.

McDonnell Douglas said Friday that it will lay off 1,000 workers at its Douglas Aircraft unit in Long Beach, a move that comes amid enormous pressure on the corporation to curtail its costs and conserve cash. Undersecretary of Defense Donald J. Yockey has held up funding of the most recent Douglas contract for the C-17 cargo jet out of concern that the cost of future production will continue to grow.

Lockheed Corp. has paid about $7 million to quietly settle a civil lawsuit brought by three defense whistle-blowers, sharply paring a record $45.3-million jury verdict reached in 1990, according to confidential sources. Even with the reduction, the Lockheed payment ranks among the largest ever to individuals who claimed they were fired for alleging improper conduct by a defense contractor.

In what is believed to be the largest legal award ever involving a defense firm, a Los Angeles jury imposed a $45.3-million judgment against Lockheed Corp. on Thursday for firing three employees who tried to warn management that the firm's C-5B aircraft was defective and unsafe. The employees--two internal auditors and a quality assurance representative--were fired in 1985 by then-Lockheed Chairman Lawrence O.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge Tuesday threw out the verdict awarding $45.3 million to three former Lockheed employees who had been fired after telling management that the firm's C-5B aircraft appeared defective and unsafe. Judge Harvey Schneider said he granted a new trial because one of the jurors failed to disclose that he had been convicted of a felony. The juror, Tresavan Owens, had said on a jury form that he had never been convicted of a felony.

In what is believed to be the largest legal award ever involving a defense firm, a Los Angeles jury imposed a $45.3-million judgment against Lockheed Corp. on Thursday for firing three employees who tried to warn management that the firm's C-5B aircraft was defective and unsafe. The employees--two internal auditors and a quality assurance representative--were fired in 1985 by then-Lockheed Chairman Lawrence O.