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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 26, 2005

BUSINESS BRIEFS
FAA rejects kids' safety seats in air

Advertiser News Services

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WASHINGTON — Children younger than 2 will still be allowed to sit on their parents' laps when flying on airplanes, the government said yesterday.

The Federal Aviation Administration had considered making safety seats mandatory for small children. That would require parents to buy extra plane tickets, which they don't now have to do for children younger than 2. The FAA concluded that requiring the safety seats would prompt cost-conscious travelers to drive, which is statistically more dangerous than flying.


VIOXX LAWSUIT COUNT NEAR 5,000

NEW ORLEANS — The tally of lawsuits against Merck & Co. in state and federal court over its painkiller Vioxx is nearly 5,000 and growing, lawyers said in federal court yesterday, less than a week after the drug maker suffered a stinging defeat in a state court in Texas.

The implications of the loss in the first of the case to be tried against Merck are still playing out. But at a monthly meeting here lawyers — and U.S. District Court Judge Eldon Fallon — made it clear they expect the number of cases against Merck will grow.


J&J-GUIDANT DEAL ADVANCES

TRENTON, N.J. — The European Union cleared Johnson & Johnson's planned purchase of heart device maker Guidant Corp. yesterday, provided some operations are sold. J&J said key U.S. regulators have yet to sign off.

Johnson & Johnson spokes-man Jeffrey Leebaw said the $25.4 billion cash and stock deal could not be finished until after the Federal Trade Commission rules.


SIX FLAGS WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION

OKLAHOMA CITY — Six Flags Inc. is putting itself up for sale at auction.

Six Flags, the world's second-biggest theme-park operator after the Walt Disney Co., said yesterday it would invite dissident shareholder Red Zone LLC to participate in the auction.