THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220419
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ESTES THOMPSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: GREENSBORO LENGTH: 34 lines
The impasse in jury deliberations on whether ABC Inc. should pay Food Lion punitive damages because of fraud in making a hidden-camera report may have ended Tuesday.
Jurors who said three times last week they were at a stalemate reported some progress. Several jurors smiled and one woman steepled her fingers and appeared to say ``Thank God.''
About 4:20 p.m., jurors sent a note to U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Tilley, asking if they could leave at 5 p.m., about 30 minutes earlier than usual, and return at 9:30 a.m. today.
``I'd like to inquire whether you're making any progress in your deliberations,'' Tilley asked the foreman.
``Yes, we are, finally,'' replied the foreman, who sighed heavily as he walked into the jury box and rested his head on the railing as the other jurors took their seats.
Jurors deliberated for about 30 more minutes before leaving promptly at 5 p.m.
Food Lion has suggested damages in a wide range: $52.5 million to $1.9 billion. The 1,112-store grocery chain suggested $50,000 damages each against two senior producers, but did not specify damages against two producers who went under cover.
The ``PrimeTime Live'' report, broadcast on Nov. 2, 1992, accused Food Lion of selling old or spoiled meats and of treating employees unfairly by making them work without pay after their shifts.
KEYWORDS: FOOD LION LAWSUIT