( S-2 ( PP-PRP ( IN As ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN result ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Geiger ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP think ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB twice ) ) ( PP-TMP ( RB before ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG appealing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN ruling ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ reluctant ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB mount ) ) ( CC or ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( VP ( VB support ) ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( NNS challenges ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN re-election ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB usually ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ loath ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB file ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS complaints ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-163 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB impugn ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN integrity ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As a result says Mr. Geiger lawyers think twice before appealing a judge 's ruling are reluctant to mount or even support challenges against him for re-election and are usually loath to file complaints that might impugn a judge 's integrity


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ stern ) ( CC and ) ( JJ forbidding-looking ) ) ( NN man ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN fixture ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ local ) ( JJ legal ) ( NN community ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD two ) ) ( NNS decades ) ) ) ) ) )

Judge O'Kicki a stern and forbidding-looking man has been a fixture in the local legal community for more than two decades


( S ( S-ADV ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN son ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ immigrant ) ( NN stonemason ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ Slovenian ) ( NN descent ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN raised ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ small ) ( NN borough ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN outside ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Ebensburg ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ( NN seat ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD put ) ( NP ( PRP himself ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN through ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NAC ( NNP University ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Pittsburgh ) ) ) ) ( NNP Law ) ( NNP School ) ) ) ) ) )

The son of an immigrant stonemason of Slovenian descent he was raised in a small borough outside Ebensburg the Cambria County seat and put himself through the University of Pittsburgh Law School


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD graduated ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN near ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN top ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN class ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG serving ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN school ) ( NN law ) ( NN review ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Richard ) ( NNP Thornburgh ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-164 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD went ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( NN governor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PRN ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Attorney ) ( NNP General ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He graduated near the top of his class serving on the school law review with Richard Thornburgh who went on to become governor of Pennsylvania and now U.S. Attorney General


( S-CLF ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( PP-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN law ) ( NN school ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ first ) ( NN wife ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD seven ) ( NNS daughters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It was also in law school that Mr. O'Kicki and his first wife had the first of seven daughters


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD divorced ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ first ) ( NN wife ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD three ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD married ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN daughter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN court ) ( NN clerk ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He divorced his first wife three years ago and married the daughter of his court clerk


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN year ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ( NNP Supreme ) ( NNP Court ) ( NNP Justice ) ( NNP John ) ( NNP P. ) ( NNP Flaherty ) ) ( VP ( VBD called ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS finest ) ( NNS judges ) ) ( PP-LOC ( CONJP ( RB not ) ( RB only ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP United ) ( NNPS States ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last year Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice John P. Flaherty called Mr. O'Kicki one of the finest judges not only in Pennsylvania but in the United States


( S ( ADVP ( RB Clearly ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS accomplishments ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Clearly the judge has had his share of accomplishments


( S ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN After ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG practicing ) ( NP ( NN law ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB locally ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN elected ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ first ) ( JJ 10-year ) ( NN term ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1971 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1981 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB effectively ) ) ( VP ( VBN re-elected ) ) ) ) )

After practicing law locally he was elected to his first 10-year term as judge in 1971 in 1981 he was effectively re-elected


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD Six ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ-131 ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN voted ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ( NNP Conference ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP State ) ( NNP Trial ) ( NNP Judges ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 400 ) ( NNS judges ) ) ) ) ) )

Six years ago Judge O'Kicki was voted president of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges by the state 's 400 judges


( S ( NP-SBJ-132 ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN considered ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ several ) ( NNS times ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS appointments ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ federal ) ( NN district ) ( CC and ) ( JJ appellate ) ( NN court ) ( NNS vacancies ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He has been considered several times for appointments to federal district and appellate court vacancies in Pennsylvania


( S ( CC And ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD ran ) ( ADVP ( RB unsuccessfully ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN state ) ( JJ appellate ) ( NN court ) ( NN seat ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1983 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ( NNP Bar ) ( NNP Association ) ) ( VP ( VBD rated ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP him ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( RBS best ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ available ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG interviewing ) ( NP ( JJ local ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And when he ran unsuccessfully for a state appellate court seat in 1983 the Pennsylvania Bar Association rated him one of the best available after interviewing local lawyers


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS smartest ) ( NN guy ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-165 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ever ) ) ( VP ( VBD sat ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN bench ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ former ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ 150-member ) ( NN bar ) ( NN association ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-166 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( PRN ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NP ( JJS most ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ refuses ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB talk ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-MNR-2 ( RB publicly ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He probably was the smartest guy who ever sat on our bench says a former president of Cambria County 's 150-member bar association who like most lawyers in Cambria County refuses to talk about the judge publicly


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJ sharp ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN tack ) ) ) ) ) )

He 's sharp as a tack


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB grasp ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN issue ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN blink ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN eye ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He could grasp an issue with the blink of an eye


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN decade ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( RB virtually ) ( DT no ) ( NN one ) ) ( VP ( VBD complained ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ) ) )

For more than a decade virtually no one complained about Judge O'Kicki


( SINV ( FRAG-1 ( WHNP ( WP What ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS institutions ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-167 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN supposed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bedrock ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN society ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS banks ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bar ) ( NN association ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN columnist ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Tribune-Democrat ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN newspaper ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ nearby ) ( NNP Johnstown ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( ADVP ( RB shortly ) ) ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN scandal ) ) ( VP ( VBD became ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ public ) ) ) ) ) )

What about those institutions that are supposed to be the bedrock of society the banks and the bar association wrote a columnist for the Tribune-Democrat a newspaper in nearby Johnstown shortly after the scandal became public


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( RB only ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN banker ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lawyer ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN spoken ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ judicial ) ( NN process ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( PP-PRD ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN taint ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-TMP ( NN today ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

If only a banker or a lawyer had spoken out years ago the judicial process would n't be under the taint it is today


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Officials ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Pennsylvania ) ( NNP Judicial ) ( NNP Inquiry ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Review ) ( NNP Board ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN arm ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-168 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ investigates ) ( NP ( JJ judicial ) ( NN misconduct ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP counter ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN inkling ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ amiss ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Ebensburg ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Officials with the Pennsylvania Judicial Inquiry and Review Board the arm of the state that investigates judicial misconduct counter that they had no inkling of anything amiss in Ebensburg


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Nobody ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN nobody ) ) ( VP ( VBD called ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ official ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( NN close ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-169 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD asked ) ( S ( RB not ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN named ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nobody told us nobody called us says an official close to the case who asked not to be named


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Nobody ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS guts ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB complain ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nobody had the guts to complain


( FRAG ( RB Certainly ) ( RB not ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) )

Certainly not the lawyers


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Johnstown ) ( NN attorney ) ( NNP Richard ) ( NNP J. ) ( NNP Green ) ( NNP Jr. ) ) ( VP ( VBD shelled ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 500 ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNS loans ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( CD five ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN testimony ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ grand ) ( NN jury ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Johnstown attorney Richard J. Green Jr. shelled out 500 in loans to the judge over five years he said in testimony to the grand jury


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN pretense ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG repaying ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) )

The judge never made a pretense of repaying the money said Mr. Green


( S-1 ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Eventually ) ) ( PRN ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( VP ( VBD testified ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD began ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBG ducking ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN office ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( RB rather ) ( IN than ) ( VP ( VB face ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD visited ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Eventually Mr. Green testified he began ducking out of his office rather than face the judge when he visited


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( VP ( VBD won ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 240,000 ) ) ( NN verdict ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN land ) ( NN condemnation ) ( NN case ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP June ) ( CD 1983 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB unexpectedly ) ) ( VBD awarded ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ additional ) ( CD 100,000 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When Mr. Green won a 240,000 verdict in a land condemnation case against the state in June 1983 he says Judge O'Kicki unexpectedly awarded him an additional 100,000


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( VP ( VBD thought ) ( NP ( RB little ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ grand ) ( NN jury ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD walked ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB up ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN courtroom ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN cleared ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD suggested ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN kickback ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Green thought little of it he told the grand jury until the judge walked up to him after the courtroom had cleared and suggested a kickback


( S ( SQ-TPC-1 ( VBP Do ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VB think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD ought ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN commission ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ your ) ( NN fee ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Do n't you think I ought to get a commission or part of your fee in this case Mr. Green said the judge asked him


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ Appalled ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBD paid ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD testified ) ) )

Appalled Mr. Green never paid the money he testified


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB complain ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Judicial ) ( NNP Inquiry ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Review ) ( NNP Board ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB either ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG saying ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR later ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD feared ) ( NP ( NN retribution ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But he did n't complain to the state 's Judicial Inquiry and Review Board either saying later that he feared retribution


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB respond ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN allegation ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN trial ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. O'Kicki said he will respond to Mr. Green 's allegation at his trial


( S ( PP ( IN Like ) ( NP ( NP ( JJS most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS lawyers ) ( CC and ) ( NNS residents ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-170 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS dealings ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Green ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN interviewed ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN article ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Like most of Cambria County 's lawyers and residents who had dealings with the judge Mr. Green declined to be interviewed for this article


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN one ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN complaint ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ his ) ( NN name ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN printed ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And no one with a complaint about the judge would allow his name to be printed


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ much ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB say ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( SBAR-PRD ( WHNP ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NN everyone ) ( RB else ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP talk ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB up ) ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ local ) ( NN attorney ) ( NNP Edward ) ( NNP F. ) ( NNP Peduzzi ) ) )

I do n't have anything much to say and I think that 's what you 're going to find from everyone else you talk to up here says local attorney Edward F. Peduzzi


( SINV ( VP ( VBZ Says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT another ) ( NN lawyer ) ) ( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN practice ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN law ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN matter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG biting ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP one ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN lip ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP live ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ small ) ( NN community ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Says another lawyer The practice of law is a matter of biting one 's lip when you live in a small community


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP One ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( PRT ( RBS best ) ) ( S ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB dance ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN top ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN coffin ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN lid ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN sealed ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( RB tightly ) ( VBN shut ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One had best not dance on top of a coffin until the lid is sealed tightly shut


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ-137 ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN considered ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ imperious ) ( JJ abrasive ) ( CC and ) ( JJ ambitious ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT those ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-171 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD practiced ) ( PP-LOC ( IN before ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ) )

The judge was considered imperious abrasive and ambitious those who practiced before him say


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD sipped ) ( NP ( NP ( NN tea ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ sweetened ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN honey ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ high-backed ) ( NN leather ) ( NN chair ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN bench ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN while ) ( S ( VP ( VBG scribbling ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS notes ) ) ( VP ( VBG ordering ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS spectators ) ) ( VP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( NP ( NN whispering ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS hats ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN courtroom ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He sipped tea sweetened with honey from his high-backed leather chair at his bench while scribbling notes ordering spectators to stop whispering or to take off their hats in his courtroom


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD Four ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD jailed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS members ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ( NNP School ) ( NNP Board ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS hours ) ) ) ( SBAR-TPC ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD defied ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN order ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB extend ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN school ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS weeks ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN time ) ) ( VP ( VBN lost ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNS teachers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN strike ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Four years ago he jailed all nine members of the Cambria County School Board for several hours after they defied his order to extend the school year by several weeks to make up for time lost during a teachers ' strike


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Visitors ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS chambers ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB cite ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB precisely ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS years ) ( NNS months ) ( NNS weeks ) ( CC and ) ( NNS days ) ) ( VP ( VBG remaining ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ mandatory ) ( NN retirement ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB force ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB aside ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG presiding ) ( NN president ) ( NN judge ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG giving ) ( NP ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN seniority ) ) ( VP ( VBN required ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( PRT ( RP over ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN county ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ top ) ( NN court ) ( NN administrator ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Visitors in his chambers say he could cite precisely the years months weeks and days remaining until mandatory retirement would force aside the presiding president judge giving Judge O'Kicki the seniority required to take over as the county 's top court administrator


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB fiercely ) ( JJ proud ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS abilities ) ( CC and ) ( NNS accomplishments ) ) ) ) ) )

The judge they say was fiercely proud of his abilities and accomplishments


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ My ) ( NN name ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ( VP ( VBD told ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN car ) ( NN salesman ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN Ebensburg ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD bought ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( JJ red ) ( NNP Pontiac ) ( NNP Sunbird ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP October ) ( CD 1984 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ grand-jury ) ( NN report ) ) ) ) ) )

My name is judge Judge O'Kicki told a car salesman in Ebensburg when he bought a new red Pontiac Sunbird in October 1984 according to the grand-jury report


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN dealership ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB dutifully ) ) ( VP ( VBD recorded ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN name ) ) ( NP ( NNP Judge ) ( NNP O'Kicki ) ) ) ) ) )

The dealership dutifully recorded the sale under the name Judge O'Kicki


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( ADVP ( RB Yet ) ) ( PP ( IN despite ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ imperial ) ( NN bearing ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT no ) ( NN one ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ever ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NN reason ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB suspect ) ( NP ( JJ possible ) ( NN wrongdoing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP John ) ( NNP Bognato ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ 150-member ) ( NN bar ) ( NN association ) ) ) ) ) )

Yet despite the judge 's imperial bearing no one ever had reason to suspect possible wrongdoing says John Bognato president of Cambria County 's 150-member bar association


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN arrogance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN demeanor ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN way ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ handles ) ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB not ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN basis ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG filing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN complaint ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bognato ) ) )

The arrogance of a judge his demeanor the way he handles people are not a basis for filing a complaint says Mr. Bognato


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN Until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD came ) ( PRT ( RB up ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB hit ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN press ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( NP-PRD ( DT any ) ( NN indication ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( NP ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ wrong ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Until this came up and hit the press there was never any indication that he was doing anything wrong


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN State ) ( NNS investigators ) ) ( VP ( VBP dispute ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN view ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( PP ( ADVP ( RB particularly ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN light ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ various ) ( NN business ) ( NNS dealings ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

State investigators dispute that view now particularly in light of the judge 's various business dealings in Cambria County


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( PP-CLR ( IN under ) ( NP ( NN scrutiny ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ late ) ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN attorney ) ( NN general ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN office ) ) ( VP ( VBD launched ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ unrelated ) ( NN investigation ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( NN corruption ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Cambria ) ( NNP County ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The judge came under scrutiny in late 1987 after the state attorney general 's office launched an unrelated investigation into corruption in Cambria County


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN inquiry ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB soon ) ) ( VP ( VBD focused ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) )

The inquiry soon focused on the judge


( S ( NP-SBJ ( RB Even ) ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ routine ) ( NN business ) ( NNS transactions ) ) ( VP ( VBD caused ) ( NP ( NN trouble ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ grand ) ( NN jury ) ( NN report ) ) ) ) ) )

Even his routine business transactions caused trouble according to the grand jury report


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD bought ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Sunbird ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP E. ) ( NNP Black ) ( NNP Pontiac-Cadillac ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Ebensburg ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD five ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN dealership ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ certain ) ( NNS apprehensions ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN reputation ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ grand-jury ) ( NN report ) ) ) ) ) )

When the judge bought his new Sunbird from James E. Black Pontiac-Cadillac in Ebensburg five years ago the dealership had certain apprehensions about the judge 's reputation according to the grand-jury report


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN dealership ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ extra ) ( NN step ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG having ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( PDT all ) ( DT the ) ( NN paper ) ( NN work ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN transaction ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN pre-approved ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NP ( NNP Ebensburg ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ local ) ( NN lender ) ) ( NP ( NNP Laurel ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The dealership took the extra step of having all the paper work for the transaction pre-approved by Ebensburg 's local lender Laurel Bank


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Then ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ additional ) ( NN precaution ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN car ) ( NN dealership ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN photograph ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD stood ) ( ADVP-LOC-CLR ( JJ next ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ new ) ( NN car ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ( NNS papers ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN hand ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-1 ( NN proof ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN received ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN loan ) ( NNS documents ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Then as an additional precaution the car dealership took the judge 's photograph as he stood next to his new car with sales papers in hand proof that he had received the loan documents


( S ( CC But ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD received ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN payment ) ( NN book ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD disavowed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN deal ) ) ) )

But when the judge received his payment book he disavowed the deal


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( DT no ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT no ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( MD shall ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bank ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ judicial ) ( NN stationery ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN report ) ) ) ) ) )

There was no loan there is no loan there never shall be a loan the judge wrote the bank on his judicial stationery according to the report


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR Later ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD went ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN step ) ) ( ADVP ( RB farther ) ) ) )

Later the judge went a step farther


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( IN After ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Laurel ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ( VP ( VBD tried ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB repossess ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN car ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ( NP-2 ( PRP him ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB intervene ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ unrelated ) ( JJ legal ) ( NN dispute ) ) ( VP ( VBG involving ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN trust ) ( NN account ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After Laurel Bank tried to repossess the car a vice president asked him to intervene in an unrelated legal dispute involving a trust account


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ( ADVP ( RB again ) ) ) )

The judge wrote again


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP find ) ( NP ( PRP myself ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN adversary ) ( NN relationship ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Laurel ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP am ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ inclined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB extend ) ( NP ( PRP myself ) ) ( ADVP ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( RB far ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-138 ( DT any ) ( NNS favors ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN concerned ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN letter ) ) ( VP ( VBN attached ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ grand ) ( NN jury ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN report ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I find myself in an adversary relationship with Laurel Bank and I am not inclined to extend myself as far as any favors are concerned the judge wrote back in a letter attached to the grand jury 's report


( S ( ADVP ( RB Perhaps ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-139 ( PRP$ my ) ( JJ personal ) ( NNS matters ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN resolved ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Laurel ) ( NN bank ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ near ) ( NN future ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN inclined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB reconsider ) ( NP ( PRP$ your ) ( NN request ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Perhaps if my personal matters can be resolved with Laurel bank in the near future I may be inclined to reconsider your request


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unfortunate ) ) ( SBAR-1 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD chose ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB write ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN letter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB certainly ) ) ( NP-PRD ( RB no ) ( NN intent ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB extort ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB there ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The judge now says it was unfortunate that he chose to write the letter but says there was certainly no intent to extort there


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN bank ) ) ( VP ( VBD acquiesced ) ) )

The bank acquiesced


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD refinanced ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD lowered ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN interest ) ( NN rate ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD accepted ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN trade-in ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-172 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP ( RB originally ) ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN deal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ beat ) ( PRT ( JJ up ) ) ) ( CD 1981 ) ( NNP Chevy ) ( NNP Citation ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN dealer ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB repair ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN before ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-140 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN resold ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It refinanced the judge 's loan lowered its interest rate and accepted a trade-in that had n't originally been part of the deal a beat up 1981 Chevy Citation the dealer had to repair before it could be resold


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN incident ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ only ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( NP ( JJ special ) ( NN treatment ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ local ) ( NN bank ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The incident was n't the only time the judge got special treatment from his local bank


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( CD Two ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB later ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB complain ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN interest ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ unsecured ) ( ADJP ( CD 10,000 ) ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB absolutely ) ( JJ onerous ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Two years later he wrote to complain that the interest he was paying on an unsecured 10,000 loan was absolutely onerous


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Paul ) ( NNP L. ) ( NNP Kane ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Laurel ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN time ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB quickly ) ) ( VBD responded ) ) )

Paul L. Kane Laurel 's president at the time quickly responded


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN bank ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrote ) ( ADVP ( RB back ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB immediately ) ) ( VP ( VBG lowering ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rate ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( CD 3.5 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN concession ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP you ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The bank he wrote back was immediately lowering the rate by 3.5 % as a concession to you


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB discuss ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN detail ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB how ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB defend ) ( NP ( PRP himself ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN trial ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN although ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ contends ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( JJ corrupt ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN state ) ( NNS prosecutors ) ) ( VP ( VBP believe ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB far ) ( JJR wealthier ) ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The judge says he ca n't discuss in detail how he will defend himself at his trial although he contends that if he were as corrupt as state prosecutors believe he would be far wealthier than he is


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( PRP$ His ) ( JJ seven-bedroom ) ( NN cedar ) ( CC and ) ( NN brick ) ( NN house ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( IN outside ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Johnstown ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN sale ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

His seven-bedroom cedar and brick house outside of Johnstown is up for sale to pay for his lawyers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ confident ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB return ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ old ) ( NN bench ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The judge says he is confident he will return to his old bench


( S-1 ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Already ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ notes ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-141 ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 76 ) ( NNS charges ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB originally ) ) ( VBN filed ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN trimmed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 27 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Already he notes the 76 charges originally filed against him have been trimmed to 27


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJS Most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS allegations ) ) ( ADJP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB no ) ( RB longer ) ) ( VBG pending ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNS ethics ) ( NNS charges ) ) ( VP ( VBN withdrawn ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NN state ) ( NNS prosecutors ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ pre-trial ) ( NN agreement ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Most of the allegations no longer pending were ethics charges withdrawn by state prosecutors as part of a pre-trial agreement


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN heart ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( JJ official ) ( NN oppression ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ remains ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ intact ) ) ) )

The heart of the case official oppression remains intact


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP lose ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP lose ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NN position ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NN career ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NN pension ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NN home ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP$ my ) ( NNS investments ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN judge ) ) )

If I lose I lose my position my career my pension my home and my investments says the judge


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ My ) ( NNP God ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP I ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP know ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP am ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ correct ) ( CC and ) ( JJ innocent ) ) ) ) ) ) )

My God and I know I am correct and innocent


( S ( S ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG Buying ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 51 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NNP Group ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( ADVP ( RB right ) ) ( RB up ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ( NNP Co. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN alley ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN sense ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ huge ) ( JJ Japanese ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG entering ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ long-term ) ( NN relationship ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB similarly ) ( JJ conservative ) ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN owner ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ tony ) ( JJ urban ) ( NN property ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Buying 51 % of Rockefeller Group Inc. is right up Mitsubishi Estate Co. 's alley in one sense The huge Japanese real estate company is entering a long-term relationship with a similarly conservative U.S. owner of tony urban property


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( CC But ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN sense ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 846 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB uncharacteristically ) ( JJ nervy ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN industry ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ) )

But in another sense the 846 million purchase is uncharacteristically nervy industry analysts say


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( ADJP ( RB usually ) ( JJ cautious ) ) ( NN giant ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB become ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN majority ) ( NN owner ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-192 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ owns ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ beloved ) ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NNP Center ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS tensions ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS purchases ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN property ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ all-time ) ( NN high ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The usually cautious giant will become the majority owner of the company that owns New York 's beloved Rockefeller Center at a time when tensions over Japanese purchases of U.S. property are at an all-time high


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS Officials ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NNP Group ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP prefer ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB focus ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS affinities ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( ADVP ( RB nearly ) ) ( VBG dismissing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN threat ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN backlash ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN public ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Officials of Rockefeller Group and Mitsubishi Estate prefer to focus on the affinities nearly dismissing the threat of a backlash from the U.S. public


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJ positive ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( JJ negative ) ) ( NNS reactions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Raymond ) ( NNP Pettit ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ senior ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NNP Group ) ) ) ) ) )

We think there will be positive as well as negative reactions says Raymond Pettit senior vice president and chief financial officer of Rockefeller Group


( S ( PP ( IN On ) ( NP ( NN balance ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ positive ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

On balance we think it will be positive


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ( JJ Japanese ) ( NN government ) ( NNS officials ) ( CC and ) ( NNS businessmen ) ) ( VP ( VBP worry ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ prominent ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( RB just ) ( DT the ) ( NN sort ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN deal ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN avoided ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN time ) ( VBG being ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But some Japanese government officials and businessmen worry that the prominent purchase is just the sort of deal that should be avoided for the time being


( S ( PP ( RB In ) ( ADJP ( RB particular ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP criticize ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN timing ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG coming ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS heels ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ controversial ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( NNPS Pictures ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In particular they criticize the timing coming as it does on the heels of Sony Corp. 's controversial purchase of Columbia Pictures Entertainment Inc


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( ADVP ( RB Officially ) ) ( INTJ ( UH yes ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP encourage ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ free ) ( NN flow ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ direct ) ( NN investment ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NNP Foreign ) ( NNP Ministry ) ( NN official ) ) )

Officially yes we encourage the free flow of direct investment says a Foreign Ministry official


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB choose ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( JJ particular ) ( NN moment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But they did n't have to choose this particular moment


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN During ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN government ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( VBG leading ) ( NN business ) ( NNS organizations ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB repeatedly ) ) ( VBN urged ) ( NP-1 ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB refrain ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ flashy ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NNS purchases ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

During the past year government officials and leading business organizations have repeatedly urged Japanese companies to refrain from flashy real estate purchases in the


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN Since ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS mid-1980s ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ other ) ( JJ major ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NNS purchases ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Dai-Ichi ) ( NNP Seimei ) ( NNP America ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 670 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN office ) ( NN building ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 153 ) ( NNP East ) ( CD 53rd ) ( NNP St. ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Manhattan ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mitsui ) ( NNP Fudosan ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 610 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Exxon ) ( NNP Building ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NNP Center ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1986 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Since the mid-1980s Japan 's other major real estate purchases in the U.S. include Dai-Ichi Seimei America Corp. 's 670 million purchase of an office building at 153 East 53rd St. in Manhattan in 1987 and Mitsui Fudosan Inc. 's 610 million purchase of the Exxon Building part of Rockefeller Center in 1986


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-179 ( NNP Arco ) ( NNP Plaza ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN sold ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Shuwa ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 620 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1986 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Sumitomo ) ( NNP Life ) ( NNP Insurance ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBD paid ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 300 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Atlanta ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP IBM ) ( NNP Tower ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) )

In Los Angeles Arco Plaza was sold to Shuwa Corp. for 620 million in 1986 and Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. paid 300 million for Atlanta 's IBM Tower last year


( S ( ADVP ( RB Altogether ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( JJ Japanese ) ( NN investment ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( JJ commercial ) ( NN real ) ( NN estate ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD grew ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 1.3 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1985 ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 7.1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ) ) )

Altogether annual Japanese investment in U.S. commercial real estate grew from about 1.3 billion in 1985 to about 7.1 billion in 1988


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Many ) ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS warnings ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN country ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS leaders ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN heart ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD sought ) ( NP ( NP ( NN development ) ( NNS partnerships ) ) ( CONJP ( RB rather ) ( IN than ) ) ( NP ( NN landmark ) ( NNS properties ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Many Japanese companies have taken the warnings by the country 's leaders to heart and sought development partnerships rather than landmark properties


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Critics ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN decision ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNP Rockefeller ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ reflects ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN degree ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( TO to ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( JJ irritated ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NN pressure ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB act ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN good ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Critics say Mitsubishi Estate 's decision to buy into Rockefeller reflects the degree to which companies are irritated by the pressure to act for the good of Japan


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT Those ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( S ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBG buying ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ right ) ) ( S-3 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB refrain ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT those ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN money ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-193 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP themselves ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP pay ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN attention ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN official ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Japan-U.S ) ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Council ) ) ) ) )

Those who have no money and are n't buying think it 's right to refrain but those with money who want to buy for themselves pay no attention says an official of the Japan-U.S Business Council


( S ( CC But ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( RB just ) ( DT the ) ( NNS elements ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-194 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB win ) ( NP ( NN support ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NNS sides ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But to Mitsubishi Estate the acquisition has just the elements that should win support from both sides


( S ( ADVP ( RB First ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( RB all ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ friendly ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN in ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rockefeller ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD sought ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD asked ) ( NP-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN majority ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

First of all it is a friendly acquisition in which Rockefeller sought out Mitsubishi Estate and asked it to buy a majority share


( S ( ADVP ( RB Secondly ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD found ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN similarity ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN business ) ( CC and ) ( NN development ) ( NNS philosophies ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBP intend ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB cooperate ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN range ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS activities ) ) ) ( PP ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN telecommunications ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Secondly the two companies found a similarity in their business and development philosophies and intend to cooperate in a range of activities from real estate to telecommunications


( S ( ADVP ( RB Finally ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB interfere ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN management ) ) ) ( PP ( IN beyond ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN place ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN board ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Finally Mitsubishi Estate has no plans to interfere with Rockefeller 's management beyond taking a place on the board


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB work ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( VBG keeping ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN reputation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB rely ) ( ADVP ( RB very ) ( RB much ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN leadership ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ( NNP President ) ( NNP Jotaro ) ( NNP Takagi ) ) )

We 'll continue to work with them in keeping with the reputation of the company and we 'll rely very much on their leadership says Mitsubishi Estate President Jotaro Takagi


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rockefeller ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( ADVP ( RB well ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN found ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN match ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ long ) ( NN history ) ) ( NP ( JJ strong ) ( NN government ) ( NNS ties ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ sound ) ( NNS resources ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Rockefeller may well have found its match in Mitsubishi Estate a company of long history strong government ties and sound resources


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN asset ) ( NNS terms ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN firm ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ) )

In asset terms Mitsubishi Estate is the largest real estate firm in Japan


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN core ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS holdings ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD 190,000 ) ( JJ square ) ( NNS meters ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( ADJP ( RB incredibly ) ( JJ expensive ) ) ( NN property ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Marunouchi ) ( NN district ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN business ) ( CC and ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN center ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Tokyo ) ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB often ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB jokingly ) ) ( VBN called ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Village ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The core of its holdings is 190,000 square meters of incredibly expensive property in the Marunouchi district the business and financial center of Tokyo often jokingly called Mitsubishi Village


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NN family ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD acquired ) ( NP ( IN that ) ( NN property ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN government ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( QP ( DT some ) ( CD 100 ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN portion ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN samurai ) ( JJ residential ) ( NN land ) ) ( VP ( VBG running ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN moat ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Imperial ) ( NNP Palace ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB east ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN toward ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN hodgepodge ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ tiny ) ( NNS shops ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ twisted ) ( NNS alleys ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-195 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD made ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS merchants ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN district ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Mitsubishi family company acquired that property from the government some 100 years ago when it was a portion of samurai residential land running from the moat of the Imperial Palace east toward the hodgepodge of tiny shops and twisted alleys that made up the merchants ' district


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Japan ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VBN opened ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS doors ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN world ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 250 ) ) ( NNS years ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN isolation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD needed ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ Western-style ) ( NN business ) ( NN center ) ) ) ) )

At the time Japan had just opened its doors to the world after about 250 years of isolation and needed a Western-style business center


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ) ( VP ( VBD built ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN government ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN dream ) ( NN development ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN story ) ) ( VP ( VBZ goes ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN exchange ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ official ) ( NN decision ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB locate ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tokyo ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ central ) ( NN railway ) ( NN station ) ) ( ADVP-LOC-CLR ( RB there ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mitsubishi built the government 's dream development the story goes in exchange for the official decision to locate Tokyo 's central railway station there


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( RB just ) ( DT an ) ( JJ early ) ( NN step ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN relationship ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN government ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-196 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN earned ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NN group ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ dubious ) ( NN moniker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( FW seisho ) ) ( PRN ( ADVP ( RB literally ) ) ( NP ( NN government-business ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN title ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-197 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ pejorative ) ( NN connotation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN government ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN bidding ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VBZ suggests ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN clout ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ inherent ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG maintaining ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( JJ close ) ( NNS ties ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That was just an early step in a relationship with government that has earned the Mitsubishi group the dubious moniker of seisho literally government-business a title that has the pejorative connotation of doing the government 's bidding but also suggests the clout inherent in maintaining such close ties


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS dozens ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS companies ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN today ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NN group ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mitsubishi Estate is one of the dozens of companies in today 's Mitsubishi group


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( JJ known ) ( PP-LOC ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN cautiousness ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN part ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NN need ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ bold ) ( JJ overseas ) ( NNS ventures ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP March ) ( CD 31 ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 57.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ total ) ( NN revenue ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NN office ) ( NN building ) ( NN management ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's known for its cautiousness in part because it has had little need for bold overseas ventures In the year ended March 31 57.4 % of its total revenue came from office building management


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ Its ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB rise ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 10 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 12 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB annually ) ) ( PP ( ADVP ( RB simply ) ) ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ natural ) ( NN turnover ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS tenants ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ automatic ) ( NN rent ) ( NNS increases ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Graeme ) ( NNP McDonald ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN industry ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP James ) ( NNP Capel ) ( NNP Pacific ) ( NNP Ltd ) ) ) ) ) )

Its earnings can rise 10 % to 12 % annually simply from the natural turnover of tenants and automatic rent increases says Graeme McDonald an industry analyst at James Capel Pacific Ltd


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS latest ) ( JJ fiscal ) ( NN year ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( DT a ) ( JJ robust ) ( CD 19 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 35.5 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNS yen ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 250.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the latest fiscal year the company 's net income jumped a robust 19 % to 35.5 billion yen 250.2 million


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB catapult ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB firmly ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ overseas ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( NN business ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD one ) ( NN area ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN lagged ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( ADVP ( RB notably ) ) ( IN behind ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS competitors ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mitsui ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-198 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN purchased ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Exxon ) ( NNP Building ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For Mitsubishi Estate the Rockefeller purchase will catapult it firmly into the overseas real estate business the one area where it has lagged notably behind Japanese competitors such as Mitsui which had purchased the Exxon Building


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBP need ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB invest ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ overseas ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN diversification ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Yoshio ) ( NNP Shima ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN industry ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Goldman ) ( NNP Sachs ) ( PRN ( NP-LOC ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ( NNP Corp ) ) ) ) ) )

Japanese companies need to invest in overseas real estate for diversification says Yoshio Shima an industry analyst at Goldman Sachs Japan Corp


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Rockefeller ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( JJ overseas ) ( NN purchase ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBN played ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( VBG leading ) ( NN role ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG designing ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Citicorp ) ( NNP Plaza ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Rockefeller is n't the first overseas purchase for Mitsubishi Estate it has already played a leading role in designing Los Angeles 's Citicorp Plaza


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Rockefeller ) ( NN investment ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( PRP$ its ) ( JJS largest ) ) ) )

But the Rockefeller investment is its largest


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( ADVP ( RB Nonetheless ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( ADVP ( RB barely ) ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dent ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS finances ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ) )

Nonetheless it will barely make a dent in Mitsubishi Estate 's finances analysts say


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NNP Estate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN decided ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB how ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS funds ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN purchase ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-199 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ due ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( IN next ) ( NNP April ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Marunouchi ) ( NNS holdings ) ) ( ADVP ( RB alone ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN estimated ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN market ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ much ) ( IN as ) ( CD 10 ) ( CD trillion ) ) ( NNS yen ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 11 ) ( CD trillion ) ) ( NNS yen ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mitsubishi Estate has n't decided how it will raise the funds for the purchase which are due in cash next April but the Marunouchi holdings alone are estimated to have a market value of as much as 10 trillion yen to 11 trillion yen


( S ( ADVP ( RB Moreover ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN member ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ( NN group ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN headed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS largest ) ( NNS banks ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sure ) ) ( S-2 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB win ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ favorable ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Moreover as a member of the Mitsubishi group which is headed by one of Japan 's largest banks it is sure to win a favorable loan


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB easily ) ) ( VB issue ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( JJ convertible ) ( NNS bonds ) ( CC or ) ( NNS warrants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts say the company also could easily issue new convertible bonds or warrants


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NN home ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( VB control ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ major ) ( NNS projects ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile at home Mitsubishi has control of some major projects


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ( JJ private-sector ) ( NN landowner ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Minato-Mirai ) ( CD 21 ) ( NN project ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ multibillion-yen ) ( NN development ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ port ) ( NN city ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Yokohama ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( NP-ADV ( IN about ) ( DT an ) ( NN hour ) ) ( IN outside ) ( NP ( NNP Tokyo ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It is the largest private-sector landowner of the Minato-Mirai 21 project a multibillion-yen development in the port city of Yokohama about an hour outside Tokyo


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN project ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ select ) ( NN group ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ public ) ( NNS projects ) ) ( VBN opened ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS firms ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ U.S.-Japan ) ( NN construction ) ( NN trade ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( VP ( VBD reached ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The project is one of a select group of public projects opened to U.S. firms under a U.S.-Japan construction trade agreement reached last year


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN centerpiece ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN complex ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Landmark ) ( NNP Tower ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNP Japan ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS tallest ) ( NN building ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-181 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN completed ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1993 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The centerpiece of that complex the Landmark Tower will be Japan 's tallest building when it is completed in 1993


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mitsubishi ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBG pushing ) ( PRT ( RP ahead ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ controversial ) ( NN plan ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB redevelop ) ( NP ( NNP Marunouchi ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN business ) ( NN center ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ high-tech ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN project ) ) ( VP ( VBN budgeted ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 30 ) ( NNS years ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( QP ( CD six ) ( CD trillion ) ) ( NNS yen ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mitsubishi is also pushing ahead with a controversial plan to redevelop Marunouchi into a business center of high-tech buildings a project budgeted for 30 years and six trillion yen


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Armstrong ) ( NNP World ) ( NNPS Industries ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN principle ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN carpet ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Shaw ) ( NNPS Industries ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Armstrong World Industries Inc. agreed in principle to sell its carpet operations to Shaw Industries Inc


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN price ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN disclosed ) ) ) ) ( IN but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( VP ( VBD estimated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( CD 150 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The price was n't disclosed but one analyst estimated that it was 150 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-127 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN faced ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN takeover ) ( NN threat ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Belzberg ) ( NN family ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Canada ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( NNP July ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( VBG disposing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN carpet ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB improve ) ( NP ( JJ total ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN performance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Armstrong which has faced a takeover threat from the Belzberg family of Canada since July said that disposing of the carpet business would improve total financial performance


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN move ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB concentrate ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ core ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-128 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ ceramic ) ( NN tile ) ) ( NP ( NN floor ) ( NNS coverings ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN furniture ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The move also would allow the company to concentrate on core businesses which include ceramic tile floor coverings and furniture


( S ( ADVP ( JJR Moreover ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PDT such ) ( DT a ) ( NN sale ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB help ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VB reassure ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS investors ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB deter ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNPS Belzbergs ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-129 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP own ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 9.85 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Lancaster ) ( NNP Pa. ) ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Moreover such a sale could help Armstrong reassure its investors and deter the Belzbergs who own a 9.85 % stake in the Lancaster Pa. company


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB use ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS proceeds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB reduce ) ( NP ( NN debt ) ) ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( PRT ( RP back ) ) ( NP ( NN stock ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB perhaps ) ) ( VB finance ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts expect Armstrong to use proceeds of the sale to reduce debt buy back stock or perhaps finance an acquisition


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN carpet ) ( NN division ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 368.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB almost ) ( CD 14 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Armstrong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 2.68 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN total ) ( NN revenue ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The carpet division had 1988 sales of 368.3 million or almost 14 % of Armstrong 's 2.68 billion total revenue


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG manufacturing ) ( NP ( NN carpet ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1967 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company has been manufacturing carpet since 1967


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Recently ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD upgraded ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS plants ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN so ) ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ stain-resistant ) ( NNS products ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( ADJP ( JJR higher ) ( JJ quality ) ) ( NNS dyes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Recently it upgraded its plants so that it could make stain-resistant products with higher quality dyes


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( NN year ) ( QP ( CC or ) ( CD two ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN carpet ) ( NN division ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN operating ) ( NN profit ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN hovered ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN around ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 5 ) ( NN % ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( JJ high ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN industry ) ( NNS standards ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( ADJP ( JJ disappointing ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 13 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 19 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( NNS margins ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Armstrong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ chief ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NN flooring ) ( CC and ) ( NN building ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the past year or two the carpet division 's operating profit margins have hovered around 5 % high by industry standards but disappointing compared with the 13 % to 19 % margins for two of Armstrong 's chief businesses flooring and building products


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD hailed ) ( NP-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ planned ) ( NN transaction ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG being ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ beneficial ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Shaw ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ( NN leader ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN carpet ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( VBN estimated ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 17 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 20 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts hailed the planned transaction as being beneficial to Armstrong and Shaw the market leader in the U.S. carpet industry with an estimated 17 % to 20 % share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Shaw ) ) ( VP ( VBN based ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Dalton ) ) ( NP ( NNP Ga. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ annual ) ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 1.18 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS economies ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN scale ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NN raw-material ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-130 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( JJ expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB boost ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN profitability ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Armstrong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS brands ) ) ( VP ( VBN sold ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Armstrong ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Evans-Black ) ( NNS names ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Shaw based in Dalton Ga. has annual sales of about 1.18 billion and has economies of scale and lower raw-material costs that are expected to boost the profitability of Armstrong 's brands sold under the Armstrong and Evans-Black names


( S ( NP-TMP ( NN Yesterday ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Shaw ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( ADVP ( NN ex-dividend ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 26.125 ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 2.25 ) ) ) ) )

Yesterday in composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange Shaw 's shares closed ex-dividend at 26.125 up 2.25


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Armstrong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VBN listed ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Big ) ( NNP Board ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 39.125 ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 12.5 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) )

Armstrong 's shares also listed on the Big Board closed at 39.125 up 12.5 cents


( S ( NP-TMP ( NN Yesterday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ flat ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN worsened ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN stock ) ( NN dilution ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN employee ) ( NN stock ) ( NN ownership ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( VBN adopted ) ( NP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Yesterday Armstrong reported flat earnings for the third quarter and nine months worsened by the stock dilution of an employee stock ownership plan adopted earlier this year


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 47 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 92 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ one-time ) ( NN gain ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the quarter earnings were 47 million or 92 cents a share including a one-time gain of 5.9 million


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( QP ( CD 42.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 93 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) )

In the year-ago quarter earnings were 42.9 million or 93 cents a share


( S ( NP-TMP ( NN Yesterday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( VP ( VBD announced ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN agreement ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ small ) ( NNP Applied ) ( NNP Color ) ( NNPS Systems ) ( NN unit ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Swiss ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NNP Brauerei ) ( NNP Eichof ) ( NNP Ltd ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Yesterday Armstrong announced an agreement to sell its small Applied Color Systems unit to a subsidiary of the Swiss company Brauerei Eichof Ltd


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN price ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN disclosed ) ) ) )

The price was n't disclosed


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Armstrong ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB close ) ( NP-2 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN color ) ( NN unit ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP-3 ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ late ) ( NNP November ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NP=2 ( DT the ) ( NN carpet ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP-TMP=3 ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP December ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN with ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( DT the ) ( NNS gains ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN applied ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( UCP ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ( CC or ) ( JJ first-quarter ) ) ( NNS results ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Armstrong expects to close the sale of the color unit in late November and the carpet sale in December with the gains to be applied to fourth quarter or first-quarter results


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Banca ) ( NNP Nazionale ) ( FW del ) ( NNP Lavoro ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ potential ) ( NNS losses ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG lending ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Iraq ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB reach ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.175 ) ( CD trillion ) ) ( NNS lire ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 872 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG marking ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bank ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ first ) ( NN quantification ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ potential ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ unauthorized ) ( NN lending ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Atlanta ) ( NN branch ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Banca Nazionale del Lavoro said its potential losses from lending to Iraq could reach 1.175 trillion lire 872 million marking the bank 's first quantification of potential costs of unauthorized lending by its Atlanta branch


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP BNL ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB previously ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Georgia ) ( NN branch ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN loan ) ( NNS commitments ) ) ( VP ( VBG topping ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Rome-based ) ( NN management ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN approval ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

BNL previously reported that its Georgia branch had taken on loan commitments topping 3 billion without the Rome-based management 's approval


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ State-owned ) ( NNP BNL ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Italy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJS largest ) ( NN bank ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS charges ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN branch ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ former ) ( NN manager ) ) ( NP ( NNP Christopher ) ( NNP Drogoul ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ former ) ( NN branch ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG alleging ) ( NP ( NP ( NN fraud ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN breach ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ fiduciary ) ( NNS duties ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

State-owned BNL Italy 's largest bank has filed charges against the branch 's former manager Christopher Drogoul and a former branch vice president alleging fraud and breach of their fiduciary duties


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP BNL ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NN board ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN approved ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ in-depth ) ( NN discussion ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN letter ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bank ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Italy ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG outlining ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS measures ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT the ) ( JJ state-owned ) ( NN bank ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VBZ plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB improve ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS controls ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ foreign ) ( NNS branches ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

BNL also said that its board had approved after an in-depth discussion a letter to the Bank of Italy outlining measures the state-owned bank has taken or plans to take to improve controls on its foreign branches


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ central ) ( NN bank ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN ordered ) ( NP-1 ( NNP BNL ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ suitable ) ( NN program ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The central bank had ordered BNL to come up with a suitable program by yesterday


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Bank ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Italy ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBN ordered ) ( NP-1 ( NNP BNL ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB shore ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN capital ) ( NN base ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB account ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ potential ) ( JJ foreign ) ( NN loan ) ( NNS losses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP Rome ) ( NN bank ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN outlined ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 3 ) ( CD trillion ) ) ( NNS lire ) ) ( JJ capital-raising ) ( NN operation ) ) ) ) ) )

Bank of Italy has also ordered BNL to shore up its capital base to account for potential foreign loan losses and the Rome bank has outlined a 3 trillion lire capital-raising operation


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP BNL ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unable ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB elaborate ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT what ) ( NNS measures ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN planned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NN bank ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB improve ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS controls ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS branches ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB abroad ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

BNL was unable to elaborate on what measures were planned by the bank to improve controls on its branches abroad


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Gov. ) ( NNP George ) ( NNP Deukmejian ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ key ) ( NNS legislators ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB back ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ temporary ) ( JJ one-quarter-cent ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB raise ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 800 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS repairs ) ( CC and ) ( NN relief ) ) ( VP ( VBN associated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Gov. George Deukmejian and key legislators agreed to back a temporary one-quarter-cent increase in the state sales tax to raise 800 million for repairs and relief associated with last month 's earthquake


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN considered ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ special ) ( NN session ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN legislature ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-275 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ begins ) ( NP-TMP ( NN tomorrow ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB cover ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ only ) ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBN estimated ) ( QP ( CD 4 ) ( CD billion ) ( TO to ) ( CD 6 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ total ) ( NN damage ) ) ( VP ( VBN caused ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 17 ) ( NN quake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The tax increase which will be considered at a special session of the state legislature that begins tomorrow would cover only part of the estimated 4 billion to 6 billion in total damage caused by the Oct. 17 quake


( S ( ADVP ( RB Aside ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ much ) ( IN as ) ( CD 3.45 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB recently ) ( VBN approved ) ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN aid ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB draw ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ gubernatorial ) ( NN emergency ) ( NN fund ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-276 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( VP ( VBZ stands ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( VBN estimated ) ( QP ( CD 700 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Aside from as much as 3.45 billion in recently approved federal aid the state is expected to draw from a gubernatorial emergency fund that currently stands at an estimated 700 million


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP am ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ aware ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( CC but ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ bipartisan ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ general ) ( NN outline ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ revenue-raising ) ( NN plan ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN governor ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Monday ) ( NN meeting ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ legislative ) ( NNS leaders ) ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ quake-relief ) ( NN question ) ) ) ) ) )

I am not aware that there is anything but bipartisan agreement for the general outline of the revenue-raising plan said a spokesman for the governor after a Monday meeting with legislative leaders over the quake-relief question


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( PRN ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN top ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ current ) ( ADJP ( JJ six-cent ) ( PP ( IN per ) ( NP ( NN dollar ) ) ) ) ( NNS sales ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VP ( VB become ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ effective ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NNP Dec. ) ( CD 1 ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB expire ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP Dec. ) ( CD 31 ) ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ) )

The tax increase on top of the current six-cent per dollar sales tax would become effective this Dec. 1 and expire Dec. 31 1990


( S ( NP-SBJ-239 ( DT The ) ( NN sales-tax ) ( NN plan ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN preferred ) ( PP-CLR ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN alternative ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-277 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN boosted ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN state ) ( NN gasoline ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The sales-tax plan was preferred over an alternative that would have boosted the state gasoline tax


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( NNS legislators ) ) ( VP ( VBD expressed ) ( NP ( NN concern ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN gas-tax ) ( NN increase ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VP ( VB take ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB too ) ( RB long ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB possibly ) ) ( VB damage ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS chances ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( JJ gas-tax-increasing ) ( NN ballot ) ( NN initiative ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-278 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS voters ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB consider ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ next ) ( NNP June ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some legislators expressed concern that a gas-tax increase would take too long and possibly damage chances of a major gas-tax-increasing ballot initiative that voters will consider next June


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Canada ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ gross ) ( JJ domestic ) ( NN product ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( DT an ) ( JJ inflation-adjusted ) ( CD 0.3 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( ADVP ( RB mainly ) ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN result ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN service-industry ) ( NN growth ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNPS Statistics ) ( NNP Canada ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ federal ) ( NN agency ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Canada 's gross domestic product rose an inflation-adjusted 0.3 % in August mainly as a result of service-industry growth Statistics Canada a federal agency said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP August ) ( NNP GDP ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD 2.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NN level ) ) ) ) ) )

The August GDP was up 2.4 % from its year-earlier level


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP GDP ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ total ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN nation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN output ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS goods ) ( CC and ) ( NNS services ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

GDP is the total value of a nation 's output of goods and services


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNPS Statistics ) ( NNP Canada ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN service-industry ) ( NN output ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 0.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP July ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Statistics Canada said service-industry output in August rose 0.4 % from July


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Output ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ goods-producing ) ( NNS industries ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD increased ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 0.1 ) ( NN % ) ) ) )

Output of goods-producing industries increased 0.1 %


( S ( ADVP ( RB Separately ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNPS Statistics ) ( NNP Canada ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NN industrial-product ) ( NN price ) ( NN index ) ) ( VP ( VBD dropped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 0.2 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP September ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ third ) ( JJ consecutive ) ( JJ monthly ) ( NN decline ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Separately Statistics Canada reported that its industrial-product price index dropped 0.2 % in September its third consecutive monthly decline


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD reported ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 2.6 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS raw-materials ) ( NN price ) ( NN index ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP September ) ) ) ) ) )

It also reported a 2.6 % decline in its raw-materials price index for September


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Time ) ( NNP Warner ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN today ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ public ) ( NNS enemies ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( NN entertainment ) ( NNS giants ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB end ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBG becoming ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NNS partners ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS ventures ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN settlement ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ acrimonious ) ( JJ legal ) ( NN dispute ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ( NNS producers ) ( NNP Peter ) ( NNP Guber ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Jon ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Time Warner Inc. and Sony Corp. may be today 's public enemies but the two entertainment giants could end up becoming partners in a number of ventures as part of a settlement of their acrimonious legal dispute over Hollywood producers Peter Guber and Jon Peters


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Warner ) ( NNPS Bros. ) ( NN studio ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD signaled ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( JJ close ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN settlement ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG asking ) ( NP-2 ( DT a ) ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( NNP Superior ) ( NNP Court ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB postpone ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN hearing ) ) ( VP ( VBN scheduled ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN tomorrow ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Warner ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN request ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ preliminary ) ( NN injunction ) ) ( VP ( VBG blocking ) ( NP-3 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Guber ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Peters ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ top ) ( NNS posts ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( NNPS Pictures ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NNP Inc ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Warner Bros. studio and Sony signaled they are close to a settlement yesterday asking a Los Angeles Superior Court to postpone a hearing scheduled for tomorrow on Warner 's request for a preliminary injunction blocking Mr. Guber and Mr. Peters from taking the top posts at Columbia Pictures Entertainment Inc


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( JJ separate ) ( NNS statements ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( CD two ) ( NNS sides ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( JJ further ) ( NNS discussions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In separate statements the two sides said they want to have further discussions