1.   The firm eventually settled on a strategy of attempting to focus public attention on its superior sales staff and customer service.

2.   And on Monday, the firm had settled a bitter, long-running dispute with a major Wall Street firm.

3.   As the event neared, the firm settled with Conti and a few other original plaintiffs.

4.   A Burlington spokesman, while denying the charges in the suit, said the firm settled the case to reduce its legal costs fees.

5.   A spokesperson for Total World Telecommunications said the firm settled because its limited resources and time were better spent in pursuing its telecommunications business.

6.   In addition to settling with the SEC, the firms are also settling with the state of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Water Resources Agency.

7.   John McElhaney, a Locke Liddell partner from Dallas, said the firm settled the cases to avoid lengthy litigation.

8.   Just before Cheney arrived at Halliburton, the firm also settled a longstanding investigation by the Commerce Department concerning exports of U.S.-produced oil field equipment to Libya.

9.   Last year the firm settled with singer Willie Nelson for an unknown amount.

10.   Nor does it count the complaint if a brokerage firm settles with a customer who had formally filed a complaint.