51.   That testimony could give the group evidence to use against the executives in private lawsuits.

52.   The banks are the subject of government investigations and private lawsuits over their role in structuring off-balance-sheet partnerships that helped sink Enron.

53.   The company also faces a series of private lawsuits seeking class-action status in state and federal courts.

54.   The commission brought charges against the companies last March and a federal judge declared last month in a private lawsuit that the agreement violated antitrust laws.

55.   The case raised broader questions about whether municipal bond investors have the right to seek damages in private lawsuits against government bond issuers.

56.   The companies say Grynberg is a habitual litigant who has already lost several private lawsuits involving similar allegations.

57.   The first necessity is to protect future presidents from private civil lawsuits while they are in office.

58.   The federal investigation follows several private lawsuits brought by law firms that specialize in class-action securities litigation.

59.   The information that the SEC unearths could be very helpful for private lawsuits against the company, he said.

60.   The measure, containing no restrictions on private lawsuits, faced withering attacks from the cigarette manufacturers on one side and public health authorities on the other.