31.   Circuit Judge Debra Nelson has already rejected Republican efforts to dismiss the suit.

32.   Coca-Cola argued in court last week that the suit should be dismissed, and a ruling on that issue is expected any day.

33.   Coke has asked the judge to dismiss the suits.

34.   Citing his qualified immunity, Behrens sought to have the suit dismissed.

35.   Despite a barrage of pretrial motions and appeals to the state Supreme Court, Ford has failed to get the suit dismissed.

36.   Dow Chemical officials were delighted by the ruling, which they said is consistent with decisions in Michigan and New York dismissing similar suits.

37.   For employers, even the cost of having meritless suits dismissed can run into big bucks.

38.   First Union and Wachovia had filed a motion to dismiss the suit.

39.   Forty airlines sued in an effort to stop the increase that was being sought by the city, but the suit was dismissed by a federal judge in February.

40.   GOPAC argues that it only helped state and local candidates, and that the suit should be dismissed.