ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180052
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
RICHMOND - It's too hard to tell the difference between L'eggs and Leg Looks pantyhose, a federal appeals court said Wednesday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Sara Lee Corp. in its trademark infringement lawsuit against Kayser-Roth Corp.
The court, in a 2-1 decision, said Kayser-Roth's Leg Looks trademark on a line of No Nonsense hosiery is too similar to that of Sara Lee's L'eggs, which operates a distribution center in Salem. It ordered the U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem, N.C., to grant Sara Lee's request that Kayser-Roth be barred from further infringement.
In his dissent, Judge H. Emory Widener said ``leg'' should not be considered the exclusive property of Sara Lee.
A lawyer for Chicago-based Sara Lee said the company plans to seek damages, but he could not say how much. A Kayser-Roth lawyer said he hadn't yet read the opinion.
Sara Lee began marketing L'eggs in food and drug stores in the early 1970s. Kayser-Roth moved into that market in 1973 and began marketing the Leg Looks line in 1992. -Associated Press Main Street to buy Clifton Forge bank
MainStreet BankGroup Inc. said Wednesday it has agreed to acquire First National Bank of Clifton Forge, a deal valued at $26.2 million.
Under the agreement, MainStreet, based in Martinsville, would exchange 5.2 shares of stock for each share of the Clifton Forge bank. MainStreet's stock closed Wednesday at $16.37 1/2 a share, down 12 1/2 cents, meaning the proposed deal represents a value of about $85 for each share of First National. The deal is subject to approval by regulators and First National shareholders.
George Kostel, president of First National, said the affiliation would enable the bank to operate as a community bank with the same staff and directors while offering more and better banking products.
First National Bank of Clifton Forge, founded in 1901, will keep its name and management after the change. The bank, which serves Clifton Forge and Alleghany, Bath and Botetourt counties, had assets of $74 million at year's end.
MainStreet has 29 offices among six banks and assets of $910 million. Members are Piedmont Trust Bank of Martinsville, Bank of Carroll, Bank of Ferrum, First Community Bank of Forest, First Bank of Stuart and First Community Bank of Saltville. -Staff report Federated CEO sees pay multiply by 7
CINCINNATI - Federated Department Stores Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Allen Questrom's pay rose nearly sevenfold to $13 million in 1995, mostly the result of the company's stock incentive plan. Questrom received about $11.05 million from the incentive plan, which was linked to the rise in Federated stock during the course of his five-year contract. -Bloomberg Business News
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