Hillenbrand will appeal verdict

        Batesville, Ind.-based Hillenbrand Industries Inc. said late Friday that it would appeal a $173.6 million jury verdict, which could result in treble damages if upheld, in an anti-trust lawsuit filed by competitor Kinetic Concepts Inc.

        Following a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in San Antonio, Texas, a jury found that Hill-Rom, Hillenbrand's hospital bed subsidiary engaged in anti-competitive practices, specifically giving deep discounts on its standard beds to hospitals and health purchasing groups in exchange for using its specialty beds that prevent bedsores. Hillenbrand denied the claim and accused Kinetic of slander.

        Hillenbrand and San Antonio-based Kinetic Concepts have a long history of legal battles. In 1994, Kinetic won a $87 million jury award in a patent infringement case.

Deadline nears to pay Ky. tax bill

        Owe taxes in Kentucky? You've got just three days left to clear up that tax bill without fear of interest, penalties or prosecution.

        The Kentucky Revenue Cabinet's tax amnesty program ends Monday. Already, about 2,000 individuals and 8,000 business have paid $16.7 million to the commonwealth's coffers.

        About half of the money — including a $2 million payment from a Cincinnati-area business — has come from out-of-state companies that may not have realized before that they owed Kentucky taxes, said Revenue Cabinet Secretary Dana Mayton.

        Ms. Mayton said with many taxpayers filing last minute, she's optimistic the state will reach its goal of $20 million.

        Expecting a last-minute rush, the cabinet has extended its local office hours to include 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and until 7 p.m. Monday. The Northern Kentucky office is at 7310 Turfway Road, Suite 190, in Florence's Turfway Ridge Office Park.

        More information is available at www.amnesty.ky.gov or at (877) ONLY-TAX (665-9829). The Florence office can be reached at (859) 371-9049.

Compiled from staff reports

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