[Am-info] urgent--inside info on corrupt settlement

[WWendyrohm@cs.com]

(hot document attached)

as you may have read in the Wall St. Journal today,
Microsoft is negotiating with the "weakest link" for a settlement
re: the remaining class action and private litigation re: its antitrust
abuses.  what the Journal leaves out is a LOT of fundamental information
about why this is happening.

i've attached the inside analysis by an economist working on the massive
California class action suit. this has not been released to the press yet,
but feel free to circulate widely. it has been presented to the judge 
overseeing the
settlement.  there will be a hearing next Tuesday concerning
these matters.

some key points to consider:

The average damage per consumer (incl.multiple purcases by businesses and 
individuals) is about $150---not the $10 claimed by Hausfeld in the press.  
Dr MacKie-Mason estimates the damages sustained by the class of 13 million 
consumers in California  alone approximates $3.1--9.27 billion and the 
damages sustained by consumers under the applicable law of all repealer 
states is $14-38 billion.

The important thing to know is that this settlement is being negotiated by 
attorneys who have dismissed cases with no damages and no leverage to obtain 
a fair settlement.  In addition, the settlement as proposed further 
entrenches Microsoft's monopoly posiition.  The way the settlement is 
structured, there will be little or no actual cost to Microsoft.  

For more information including documents, contact me:

Wendy Goldman Rohm
Author [Random House, The Microsoft File: The Secret Case Against Bill Gates] 
847-869-3140