31.   For its part, WorldCom remained mum Tuesday after the Department of Justice announced its lawsuit to block the merger.

32.   Granada chief executive Charles Allen suggested that regulators should block a merger between Carlton and United.

33.   He could block the mergers outright or allow one or the other or both.

34.   He is also spearheading efforts to persuade the public service commissions in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and nine other states to block the merger.

35.   He noted that declarations are normally collected in preparation for an injunction request or for use in persuading FTC commissioners to block a merger.

36.   He will rule by the end of June on whether to block the merger until a full trial is held before an administrative law judge.

37.   Hogan is expected to make a decision by mid-June on whether to grant a preliminary injunction blocking the merger until an FTC administrative law judge holds a full-scale trial.

38.   In asking for a preliminary injunction to block the merger, the burden of proof is on the FTC to make the case the merger restrains competition.

39.   In cancelling the deal, it cited pressure from the US Department of Justice, which had filed a lawsuit seeking to block the merger.

40.   In January, the FTC voted to try to block the merger of the two largest hospitals in Grand Rapids, Mich.