The jury awarded $975,181.46 in actual damages and $60 million in punitive damages after less than a day’s deliberations. Southern Union had filed the case in the Arizona district court in July 1999.

“We are gratified by the outcome of this trial and the very strong statement the jury made by its punitive finding,” said George L. Lindemann, CEO of Southern Union. “Southern Union has always felt that we were the victim of misdeeds by these parties; by its verdict, the jury obviously agrees.”

In its verdict, the jury apportioned findings of fault related to the actual damages portion of the award among Irvin; Jack Rose, former executive secretary to the commission and Irvin’s former personal adviser; Michael Maffie, president of Southwest Gas; Eugene Dubay, a former Oneok Inc. executive; John Gaberino, Oneok general counsel; Mark Dioguardi, formerly of Oneok and Rose’s attorney; and Thomas Hartley, Southwest Gas chairman.

In August, Southwest paid Southern Union $17.5 million to settle the claims of fraud and bad faith breach of contract. On Dec. 14, Southern Union settled its litigation with Rose for $75,000 and the company donated the money to charity. Southern Union has a pending confidential settlement agreement with Oneok.

©Copyright 2002 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.