( S ( SBAR-PRP ( IN Since ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD 40 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS skiers ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NNS parents ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ many ) ( NNS slopes ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VP ( VBG building ) ( NP ( NNS nurseries ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG expanding ) ( NP ( JJ ski ) ( NNS schools ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG adding ) ( NP ( NP ( NN entertainment ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS kids ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Since 40 % of skiers are parents many slopes are building nurseries expanding ski schools and adding entertainment for kids


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Vail ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Colo. ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN playland ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ looks ) ( PP-CLR ( IN like ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ old ) ( NN mining ) ( NN town ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS kids ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VP ( VB ski ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN through ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB pan ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN fool ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN gold ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Vail Colo. now has a playland that looks like an old mining town kids can ski through and pan for fool 's gold


( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( CD 15 ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB enjoy ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ own ) ( JJ nightly ) ( NN entertainment ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN dinner ) ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN without ) ( NP ( NN mom ) ( CC and ) ( NN dad ) ) ) ) ) )

For 15 they can enjoy their own nightly entertainment with dinner without mom and dad


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS years ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS parents ) ) ( ADVP ( RB usually ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB hire ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN sitter ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP-CLR ( NNS turns ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBG skiing ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD one ) ( NN spouse ) ) ( VP ( VBD stayed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS children ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A few years ago parents usually had to hire a sitter or take turns skiing while one spouse stayed with the children


( SINV ( S-TPC-4 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJS Most ) ( NNS parents ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( IN through ) ( NP ( WDT that ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBD came ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB back ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Michael ) ( NNP Shannon ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Vail ) ( NNP Associates ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ owns ) ( CC and ) ( VBZ operates ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Vail ) ( CC and ) ( JJ nearby ) ( NNP Beaver ) ( NNP Creek ) ( NNS resorts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Most parents who had to go through that never came back says Michael Shannon president of Vail Associates Inc. which owns and operates the Vail and nearby Beaver Creek resorts


( S ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO To ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN skiing ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RBR more ) ( JJ convenient ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ time-strapped ) ( NNS visitors ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJ several ) ( NNS resorts ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( CC or ) ( VBG starting ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ own ) ( NN travel ) ( NNS agencies ) ) ) ) )

To make skiing more convenient for time-strapped visitors several resorts are buying or starting their own travel agencies


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN phone ) ( NN call ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN ski ) ( NNS buffs ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( NN hotel ) ( CC and ) ( NN restaurant ) ( NNS reservations ) ) ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NN lift ) ( NNS tickets ) ) ) ( VP ( VB rent ) ( NP ( JJ ski ) ( NN equipment ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB sign ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS lessons ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In one phone call ski buffs can make hotel and restaurant reservations buy lift tickets rent ski equipment and sign up for lessons


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS resorts ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG adding ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS amenities ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ pricey ) ( NNS restaurants ) ) ( NP ( NN health ) ( NNS spas ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NN vacation ) ( NNS packages ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN twist ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And resorts are adding other amenities such as pricey restaurants health spas and vacation packages with a twist


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN During ) ( NP ( NNP Winter ) ( NNP Carnival ) ( NN week ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN example ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS visitors ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sunday ) ( NNP River ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Maine ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ hot-air ) ( NN balloon ) ( NN ride ) ) ) ) )

During Winter Carnival week for example visitors at Sunday River in Maine can take a hot-air balloon ride


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NNS People ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT these ) ( NNS days ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( NP ( NP ( NN something ) ( RB else ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN besides ) ( FRAG ( VP ( VP ( VB ski ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB sit ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bar ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Don ) ( NNP Borgeson ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ executive ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Angel ) ( NNP Fire ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP N.M. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Chamber ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Commerce ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

People these days want something else to do besides ski and sit in the bar says Don Borgeson executive director of Angel Fire N.M. 's Chamber of Commerce


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN ski ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBZ hopes ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB increase ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS skiers ) ) ) ) ( PP-EXT ( IN by ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 3.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 21.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ next ) ( CD five ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJS latest ) ( NNS ads ) ( CC and ) ( NNS promotions ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The ski industry hopes to increase the number of skiers by 3.5 million to about 21.7 million in the next five years with its latest ads and promotions


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( VBG being ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB overly ) ( JJ optimistic ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But some think that 's being overly optimistic


( S ( S ( PP ( IN For ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN thing ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ tough ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB attract ) ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN skiing ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ expensive ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN lift ) ( NN ticket ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB cost ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN up ) ( TO to ) ( CD 35 ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN day ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN equipment ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG rising ) ) ) ) ) )

For one thing it may be tough to attract people because skiing is still expensive a lift ticket can cost up to 35 a day and equipment prices are rising


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJS most ) ( NNS vacationers ) ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBP prefer ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ warm ) ( NN climate ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN winter ) ( NNS excursions ) ) ) ) )

And most vacationers still prefer a warm climate for their winter excursions


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT An ) ( NNP American ) ( NNP Express ) ( NNP Co. ) ( NN survey ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN travel ) ( NNS agents ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD revealed ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD 34 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( VP ( VBP believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS clients ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB pick ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN trip ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN winter ) ) ( PP-MNR ( VBN based ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN availability ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN winter ) ( NNS sports ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( VP ( VBN opposed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 69 ) ( NN % ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ warm-weather ) ( NNS sports ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( VBG deciding ) ( NN factor ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

An American Express Co. survey of its travel agents revealed that only 34 % believe their clients will pick a trip this winter based on the availability of winter sports as opposed to 69 % who think that warm-weather sports will be the deciding factor


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( SBAR-ADV ( RB Even ) ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB bring ) ( ADVP-DIR ( IN in ) ) ( NP ( ADJP ( DT that ) ( JJ many ) ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS skiers ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB know ) ( SBAR ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB handle ) ( NP ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN kind ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN increase ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP I. ) ( NNP William ) ( NNP Berry ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN editor ) ( CC and ) ( NN publisher ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Ski ) ( NNP Industry ) ( NNP Letter ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Katonah ) ) ( NP ( NNP N.Y ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Even if they could bring in that many new skiers I do n't know if the industry could handle that kind of an increase says I. William Berry editor and publisher of the Ski Industry Letter in Katonah N.Y


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS Most ) ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN weekend ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS slopes ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ overcrowded ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADVP ( RB then ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT these ) ( JJ new ) ( NNS skiers ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB back ) ) ) ) ) )

Most people will come on the weekend the slopes will be overcrowded and then these new skiers wo n't come back


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Inland ) ( NNP Steel ) ( NNP Industries ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( VP ( VBN battered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NN volume ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NNS costs ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD posted ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 75 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN drop ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ) ) ) )

Inland Steel Industries Inc. battered by lower volume and higher costs posted a 75 % drop in third-quarter earnings


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN nation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ fourth-largest ) ( NN steelmaker ) ) ( VP ( VBD earned ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 18.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 43 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 61 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.70 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( ADVP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN industry ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG enjoying ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ peak ) ( NN demand ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ strong ) ( NN pricing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The nation 's fourth-largest steelmaker earned 18.3 million or 43 cents a share compared with 61 million or 1.70 a share a year earlier when the industry was enjoying peak demand and strong pricing


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Sales ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 981.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.02 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

Sales fell to 981.2 million from 1.02 billion


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBP mark ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ significant ) ( NN drop ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( NN quarter ) ( POS 's ) ) ( QP ( CD 45.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.25 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The earnings also mark a significant drop from the second quarter 's 45.3 million or 1.25 a share


( S ( ADVP ( RB Moreover ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS earnings ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( ADVP ( RB well ) ) ( IN below ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS analysts ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS expectations ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 1.16 ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Moreover the earnings were well below analysts ' expectations of about 1.16 a share


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ composite ) ( NN trading ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ( NNP Stock ) ( NNP Exchange ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Inland ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 35.875 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB down ) ( NP ( CD 1 ) ) ) ) )

In composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange Inland closed yesterday at 35.875 a share down 1


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD attributed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS earnings ) ( NN drop ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NN volume ) ) ( VP ( VBN related ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ seasonal ) ( NN demand ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ soft ) ( NN consumer ) ( JJ durable ) ( NN market ) ) ( PP-LOC ( ADVP ( RB especially ) ) ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ automotive ) ( NN sector ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company attributed the earnings drop to lower volume related to seasonal demand and the soft consumer durable market especially in the automotive sector


( S ( ADVP ( RB However ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBN lost ) ( NP ( NNS orders ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( VBN prolonged ) ( NN labor ) ( NNS talks ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ second ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) )

However the company also lost orders because of prolonged labor talks in the second quarter


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Third-quarter ) ( NNS shipments ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD slipped ) ( NP-EXT-1 ( CD 7 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR-2 ( IN from ) ( NP-TMP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-ago ) ( NN period ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( NP=1 ( CD 17 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR=2 ( IN from ) ( NP-TMP ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ second ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) )

Third-quarter shipments slipped 7 % from the year-ago period and 17 % from this year 's second quarter


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN steel ) ) ( VP ( VBN shipped ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN steel ) ( NN segment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD slid ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 26 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN ton ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 66 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN ton ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 57 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN ton ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Profit of steel shipped for the company 's steel segment slid to 26 a ton from 66 a ton a year earlier and 57 a ton a quarter earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD noted ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ disappointing ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB reflect ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN steel ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts noted that the disappointing results do n't reflect lower prices for steel products


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Charles ) ( NNP Bradford ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Merrill ) ( NNP Lynch ) ( NNP Capital ) ( NNP Markets ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJR higher ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ galvanized ) ( CC and ) ( JJ cold-rolled ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD offset ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR lower ) ( NNS prices ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( ADJP ( NN bar ) ( JJ hot-rolled ) ( CC and ) ( JJ structural ) ) ( NN steel ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Charles Bradford an analyst with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets said higher prices for galvanized and cold-rolled products offset lower prices for bar hot-rolled and structural steel


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ Structural ) ( NN steel ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB primarily ) ) ( VP ( VBZ serves ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN construction ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB especially ) ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 15 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN price ) ( NN drop ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bradford ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Structural steel which primarily serves the construction market was especially hurt by a 15 % price drop Mr. Bradford said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ its ) ( VBN integrated ) ( NN steel ) ( NN sector ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJR higher ) ( JJ raw ) ( NN material ) ( NN repair ) ( CC and ) ( NN maintenance ) ( CC and ) ( NN labor ) ( NNS costs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said its integrated steel sector was also hurt by higher raw material repair and maintenance and labor costs


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( VBN increased ) ( NN labor ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( VP ( VBD became ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ effective ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Aug. ) ( CD 1 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS terms ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ four-year ) ( NN labor ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP United ) ( NNP Steelworkers ) ( NN union ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The increased labor costs became effective Aug. 1 under terms of the four-year labor agreement with the United Steelworkers union


( S ( ADVP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN service ) ( NN center ) ( NN segment ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD saw ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN operating ) ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VB drop ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 11.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 30.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD experienced ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ same ) ( NN demand ) ( CC and ) ( NN cost ) ( NNS problems ) ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN start-up ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( VP ( VBN associated ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN coil ) ( NN processing ) ( NN facility ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Chicago ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( VBN upgraded ) ( NN computer ) ( NN information ) ( NN system ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile the company 's service center segment which saw operating profit drop to 11.5 million from 30.7 million a year ago experienced much of the same demand and cost problems as well as start-up costs associated with a coil processing facility in Chicago and an upgraded computer information system


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Inland ) ( NNP Chairman ) ( NNP Frank ) ( NNP W. ) ( NNP Luerssen ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ short-term ) ( NN outlook ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN clouded ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNS uncertainties ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN economy ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ financial ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Inland Chairman Frank W. Luerssen said the company 's short-term outlook is clouded by uncertainties in the economy and financial markets


( S ( ADVP ( RB However ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD noted ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN steel ) ( NN mill ) ( NNS bookings ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB up ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ early ) ( NN summer ) ( NNS levels ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB improve ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN cost ) ( NN performance ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

However he noted that steel mill bookings are up from early summer levels and that he expects the company to improve its cost performance in the fourth quarter


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 113 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 3.04 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 3.19 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 204.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 5.76 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 3.03 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RBR earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the first nine months profit was 113 million or 3.04 a share on sales of 3.19 billion compared with 204.5 million or 5.76 a share on sales of 3.03 billion a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Melvin ) ( NNP Belli ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ( NN law ) ( NNS offices ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN epicenter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ legal ) ( NN activity ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN after ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Tuesday ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Melvin Belli 's San Francisco law offices may have been the epicenter of legal activity after Tuesday 's earthquake


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD 25 ) ( NNS minutes ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN office ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN telephone ) ( NN service ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN restored ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ( NN morning ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( CD 17 ) ( JJ potential ) ( NNS clients ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN called ) ( S-MNR ( VP ( VBG seeking ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS services ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ self-proclaimed ) ( NNP King ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Torts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the first 25 minutes after his office 's telephone service was restored yesterday morning 17 potential clients had called seeking the services of the self-proclaimed King of Torts


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Belli ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( JJ many ) ( JJ other ) ( JJ personal-injury ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ suspects ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD measured ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 6.9 ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Richter ) ( NN scale ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB generate ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ enough ) ( NNS lawsuits ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN city ) ( POS 's ) ) ( UCP ( JJ personal-injury ) ( CC and ) ( NN construction ) ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ busy ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( RB quite ) ( DT some ) ( NN time ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Belli like many other personal-injury lawyers suspects that the earthquake which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale will generate enough lawsuits to keep this city 's personal-injury and construction lawyers busy for quite some time


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS Suits ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN filed ) ( PP-CLR ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( NN engineering ) ( NNS firms ) ) ( NP ( NNS contractors ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS developers ) ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( JJ local-government ) ( NNS agencies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Suits are likely to be filed against engineering firms contractors and developers as well as against local-government agencies


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB cash ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN quake ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ tough ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN once ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS cases ) ) ( VP ( VBP reach ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN judge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But lawyers looking to cash in on the quake may have a tough time once their cases reach a judge


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Experts ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP California ) ( NN tort ) ( NN law ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS protections ) ) ( VP ( VBN afforded ) ( NP ( NN government ) ( NNS agencies ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NNS cases ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB pretty ) ( JJ ironclad ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Experts on California tort law say protections afforded government agencies in such cases are pretty ironclad


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( RB Even ) ( NNS claims ) ) ( PP ( IN against ) ( NP ( NNS individuals ) ( CC and ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP face ) ( NP ( JJ significant ) ( NNS roadblocks ) ) ) )

Even claims against individuals and companies face significant roadblocks


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ major ) ( JJ legal ) ( NN barrier ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( NN principle ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT no ) ( PRP one ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN held ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ liable ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN act ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP God ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The major legal barrier is the principle that no one can be held liable for an act of God


( S-4 ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( ADVP ( RB now ) ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Laurence ) ( NNP Drivon ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president-elect ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ 6,000-member ) ( NNP California ) ( NNP Trial ) ( NNP Lawyers ) ( NNP Association ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( NN thing ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP we ) ) ( ADVP ( RB really ) ) ( VP ( VBP need ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB worry ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NN anybody ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( VP ( VBN sued ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( NN liability ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( RB not ) ) ) ) )

For now says Laurence Drivon president-elect of the 6,000-member California Trial Lawyers Association the last thing we really need to worry about is whether anybody is going to get sued or whether they have liability or not


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( VBG wandering ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB around ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN daze ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ) ( S-MNR ( VP ( VBG worrying ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB rain ) ( NP-TMP ( RB tonight ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We still have people wandering around in a daze in San Francisco worrying about whether it 's going to rain tonight


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( NNS plaintiffs ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG seeking ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ little ) ( NN room ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( VBG maneuvering ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But that wo n't stop plaintiffs ' lawyers from seeking a little room for maneuvering


( S-1 ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP argue ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT an ) ( NN earthquake ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( JJ near ) ( NN certainty ) ) ) )

In San Francisco they argue an earthquake was a near certainty


( S ( ADVP ( RB Therefore ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN engineering ) ( NNS firms ) ( NN construction ) ( NNS contractors ) ( CC and ) ( NNS developers ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN sued ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( RB not ) ( VP ( VBG keeping ) ( NP ( NNS structures ) ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB up ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN standard ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NN government ) ( NNS agencies ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN held ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ accountable ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG failing ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( ADVP ( RB properly ) ) ( VP ( VB protect ) ( NP ( NNS citizens ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( DT a ) ( JJ foreseeable ) ( NN disaster ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NN negligence ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN proven ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Therefore engineering firms construction contractors and developers can be sued for not keeping structures up to standard and government agencies can be held accountable for failing to properly protect citizens from such a foreseeable disaster if negligence can be proven


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ My ) ( NN prediction ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ mass ) ( NN litigation ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS errors ) ( CC and ) ( NNS omissions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN engineering ) ( CC and ) ( NN contracting ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Stanley ) ( NNP Chesley ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ well-known ) ( NNP Cincinnati ) ( NNS plaintiffs ) ( NN lawyer ) ) ) )

My prediction is there will be mass litigation over errors and omissions in engineering and contracting says Stanley Chesley a well-known Cincinnati plaintiffs lawyer


( S ( PP ( IN From ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-2 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD saw ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN television ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Chesley ) ) ( VP ( VBZ points ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Interstate ) ( CD 880 ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VP ( VBD collapsed ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD killed ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 200 ) ) ( NNS commuters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD suffered ) ( NP ( JJ serious ) ( NN damage ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN while ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( VBG surrounding ) ( NNS buildings ) ) ( VP ( VBD appeared ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sustain ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN damage ) ( RB whatsoever ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

From what he saw on television Mr. Chesley points out that Interstate 880 which collapsed and killed more than 200 commuters suffered serious damage while surrounding buildings appeared to sustain no damage whatsoever


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ aware ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN propensity ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS earthquakes ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP San ) ( NNP Andreas ) ( NNP Fault ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He adds that they were aware of the propensity for earthquakes and the San Andreas Fault


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( ADJP ( JJ flamboyant ) ( CC and ) ( JJ publicity-conscious ) ) ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Belli ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( ADVP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS investigators ) ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN held ) ( S ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ liable ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN damage ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN interstate ) ) ( VP ( VBG approaching ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The flamboyant and publicity-conscious Mr. Belli says he already has investigators looking into who could be held liable for the damage on the Bay Bridge and the interstate approaching it


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB know ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN smoke ) ) ( VP ( VBZ clears ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( INTJ ( UH yes ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

We wo n't know until the smoke clears but yes we 're looking into it he says


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Belli ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ wants ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB know ) ( SBAR ( IN whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( UCP ( NN state ) ( CC or ) ( JJ federal ) ) ( NNS engineers ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( JJ private ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN prevented ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN damage ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Belli says he wants to know whether state or federal engineers or private companies could have prevented the damage


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Belli ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN at ) ( NP ( NNP Candlestick ) ( NNP Park ) ) ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP World ) ( NNP Series ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Tuesday ) ( NN night ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN hired ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ civil ) ( NNS engineers ) ) ( VP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB check ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( JJ own ) ( ADJP ( RB mildly ) ( VBN damaged ) ) ( NN building ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB investigate ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bridge ) ( NN collapse ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Belli who was at Candlestick Park for the World Series Tuesday night says he has hired civil engineers to check out his own mildly damaged building and to investigate the bridge collapse


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Defense ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( ADVP ( RB perhaps ) ( RB understandably ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNS plaintiffs ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS lawyers ) ) ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( DT an ) ( NN approach ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NN success ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG pursuing ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS claims ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN though ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP add ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS facts ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT each ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD must ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN looked ) ( PP ( RP at ) ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB individually ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Defense lawyers perhaps understandably say that plaintiffs ' lawyers taking such an approach will have little success in pursuing their claims though they add that the facts of each case must be looked at individually


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN lot ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT this ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ code-related ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Ignazio ) ( NNP J. ) ( NNP Ruvolo ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN construction ) ( NN law ) ( NN specialist ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Bronson ) ( NNP Bronson ) ( CC & ) ( NNP McKinnon ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ( NN law ) ( NN firm ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A lot of this is going to be code-related says Ignazio J. Ruvolo a construction law specialist at Bronson Bronson & McKinnon a San Francisco law firm


( S-2 ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Plaintiffs ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB argue ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( VBN damaged ) ( NNS structures ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN built ) ( PP-MNR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ proper ) ( NN design ) ( NNS standards ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Plaintiffs he says will argue that damaged structures were n't built to proper design standards


( S ( CC But ) ( S-TPC-2 ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS defendants ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB prove ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD met ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ stringent ) ( NN building ) ( NNS codes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB protect ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ruvolo ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

But if defendants can prove that they met San Francisco 's stringent building codes that 's probably going to protect them Mr. Ruvolo says


( S-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Government ) ( NNS entities ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ continues ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ruvolo ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN protected ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NNP California ) ( NNP Government ) ( NNP Tort ) ( NNP Liability ) ( NNP Act ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Government entities continues Mr. Ruvolo could be protected by the California Government Tort Liability Act


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( PP-LOC ( IN Under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN statute ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS agencies ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN provided ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS defenses ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( ADVP ( RB normally ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ available ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ private ) ( NN sector ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ruvolo ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

Under the statute agencies are provided defenses that normally are n't available in the private sector Mr. Ruvolo says


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN legislature ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB inhibit ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ unique ) ( NN government ) ( NNS activities ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG exposing ) ( NP ( JJ public ) ( NNS entities ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN liability ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The legislature does not want to inhibit the unique government activities by exposing public entities to liability


( SINV ( VP-TPC-3 ( VBN Built ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN statute ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ) ( NP-SBJ-4 ( NP ( JJ so-called ) ( NN design ) ( NNS immunities ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB protect ) ( NP ( NN government ) ( NNS agencies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ruvolo ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Richard ) ( NNP Covert ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lawyer ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP California ) ( NNP Department ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Transportation ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ oversees ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBN damaged ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Built into the statute are so-called design immunities which are likely to protect government agencies according to Mr. Ruvolo and Richard Covert a lawyer with the California Department of Transportation which oversees the damaged Bay Bridge


( SINV ( S-TPC-5 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN protected ) ( SBAR-TMP ( SBAR ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNS plans ) ( CC and ) ( NNS designs ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ public ) ( NNS structures ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN approved ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ahead ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN time ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( SBAR ( WHADVP-4 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS structures ) ) ( VP ( VBD met ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB previously ) ( VBN approved ) ) ( NNS standards ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Covert ) ) )

The state is protected when plans and designs for public structures were approved ahead of time or when structures met previously approved standards says Mr. Covert


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ believes ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT those ) ( NNS defenses ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( ADVP ( RB well ) ) ( VP ( VB apply ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Bridge ) ( NN collapse ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He believes those defenses might well apply to the Bay Bridge collapse


( S ( ADVP ( RB Nevertheless ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ adds ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( ADVP ( RB totally ) ) ( VP ( VBN shocked ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP get ) ( NP ( NNS lawsuits ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Bay ) ( NNP Bridge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Nevertheless he adds I would n't get totally shocked if we get lawsuits out of the Bay Bridge


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN If ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN race ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN courthouse ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBD started ) ( ADVP ( RB yet ) ) ) ) )

If there 's going to be a race to the courthouse it has n't started yet


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Covert ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB search ) ( PP-CLR ( IN through ) ( NP ( NP ( NN law ) ( NNS books ) ) ( VP ( VBN scattered ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN floor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN office ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NN yesterday ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Belli ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN courtyard ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN strewn ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNS bricks ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Covert had to search through law books scattered on the floor of his office yesterday and Mr. Belli 's courtyard was strewn with bricks


( S ( NP-TMP ( NNP Wednesday ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Belli ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN staff ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN permitted ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN office ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NN city ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBN worried ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN safety ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Wednesday Mr. Belli 's staff was n't permitted into his office by city officials worried about their safety


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD set ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NN shop ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sidewalk ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN front ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN town-house ) ( NN office ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBN helped ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS victims ) ) ( VP ( VB apply ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ federal ) ( NN aid ) ) ) ( ADVP ( JJ free ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN charge ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He said he set up shop on the sidewalk in front of his town-house office and helped victims apply for federal aid free of charge


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN news ) ( NN release ) ) ( VP ( VBN issued ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Drivon ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN trial ) ( NNS lawyers ) ( NN association ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD promised ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ free ) ( NN assistance ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS victims ) ) ) ) ) )

In a news release issued by Mr. Drivon the trial lawyers association also promised free assistance to victims


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN association ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB monitor ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN conduct ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS lawyers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD warned ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN solicitation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ unethical ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The association said it would monitor the conduct of lawyers and warned that solicitation of business is unethical


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT THE ) ( NN PANHANDLER ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ approaches ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN pitch ) ) ) ) )

THE PANHANDLER approaches makes his pitch


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJ straightforward ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ wants ) ( NP ( NP ( NN money ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN food ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( ADJP ( RB incredibly ) ( VBN convoluted ) ) ( PRN ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NN sister ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( JJ very ) ( NN moment ) ) ) ( PP-PRD ( IN near ) ( NP ( NN death ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hoboken ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN lost ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN wallet ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD 1.22 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN change ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB put ) ( PP-PUT ( IN toward ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN bus ) ( NN ticket ) ) ( VP ( VBG costing ) ( NP ( CD 3.83 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SQ ( MD wo ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( PRP him ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN difference ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It may be straightforward he wants money for food or incredibly convoluted his sister is at this very moment near death in Hoboken he has lost his wallet and has only 1.22 in change to put toward a bus ticket costing 3.83 and wo n't you give him the difference


No


( FRAG ( ADVP ( RB Well ) ) ( FRAG ( WHADVP ( WRB how ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loan ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( PRP$ your ) ( NN name ) ( CC and ) ( NN address ) ) ) ) ) )

Well how about a loan he 'll take your name and address


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Figuring ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NN money ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( ADVP ( RBR more ) ( RB likely ) ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( IN toward ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN bottle ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Night ) ( NNP Train ) ( NNP Express ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJS most ) ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NN trouble ) ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG saying ) ( INTJ-CLR ( UH no ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS propositions ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( DT this ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Figuring that their money would more likely go toward a bottle of Night Train Express most people have little trouble saying no to propositions like this


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ healthy ) ( NN skepticism ) ) ( VP ( VBZ vanishes ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN solicited ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT an ) ( VBN organized ) ( NN charity ) ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB help ) ( VP ( VB fight ) ( NP ( NP ( NN cancer ) ) ( NP ( NN famine ) ) ( NP ( NN child ) ( NN abuse ) ) ( CC or ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-2 ( WP what ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP have ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But healthy skepticism vanishes when they are solicited by an organized charity to help fight cancer famine child abuse or what have you


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS Most ) ) ( VP ( VBP see ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NN reason ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB doubt ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ their ) ( NN cash ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( IN toward ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( JJ noble ) ( NNS goals ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Most see little reason to doubt that their cash will go toward these noble goals


( SQ ( CC But ) ( MD will ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) )

But will it


( FRAG ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ distressing ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS cases ) ) ) ) ) ( INTJ ( UH no ) ) )

In a distressing number of cases no


( S ( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN fact ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNS donors ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB sometimes ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADVP-PRD ( RB better ) ( RP off ) ( S ( VP ( VBG giving ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN money ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN panhandler ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( ADVP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN overhead ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG telling ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN truth ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In fact the donors sometimes might be better off giving the money to the panhandler at least he has no overhead and he might even be telling the truth


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN year ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 100 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN donated ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN nation ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 400,000 ) ( NNS charities ) ) ) ) ) )

Last year more than 100 billion was donated to the nation 's 400,000 charities


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ vast ) ( NN bulk ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB indeed ) ) ( VP ( VBN spent ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ reputable ) ( NNS organizations ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ good ) ( NNS works ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN raised ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB equally ) ( JJ true ) ) ( SBAR-5 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT a ) ( JJ sizable ) ( NN hunk ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN consumed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS expenses ) ) ( VP ( VBN claimed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ other ) ( NNS operators ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( JJ fraudulent ) ( NNS expenses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

While the vast bulk of it was indeed spent by reputable organizations on the good works it was raised for it 's equally true that a sizable hunk was consumed in expenses claimed by other operators including fraudulent expenses


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( JJ many ) ( NNS cases ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( VP ( VBN claimed ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB so ) ( JJ high ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( RB only ) ( DT a ) ( NN dribble ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN left ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ purported ) ( NNS beneficiaries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In many cases the costs claimed were so high that only a dribble of cash was left for the purported beneficiaries


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ impossible ) ) ( S-2 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB say ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB exactly ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WHNP ( WRB how ) ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ total ) ( NN charity ) ( NN intake ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN devoured ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( JJ stratospheric ) ( NN fund-raising ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( NP ( JJ high-living ) ( NNS operators ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ downright ) ( NN fraud ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's impossible to say exactly how much of the total charity intake is devoured by stratospheric fund-raising costs high-living operators and downright fraud


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN problem ) ) ( ADVP ( RB clearly ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ widespread ) ( CC and ) ( JJ persistent ) ) ) )

But the problem clearly is widespread and persistent


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN State ) ( NN law ) ( NNS enforcers ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( ADVP ( RB barely ) ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN charity ) ( NNS scams ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS reports ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( NN watchdog ) ( NNS groups ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Council ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Better ) ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Bureaus ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBG encouraging ) ) ) ) )

State law enforcers can barely keep up with charity scams and reports from watchdog groups such as the Council of Better Business Bureaus are not encouraging


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Philanthropic ) ( NNP Advisory ) ( NNP Service ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP BBB ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ reviews ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS hundreds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS charities ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT every ) ( NN year ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG measuring ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN against ) ( NP ( NN minimum ) ( NNS standards ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN accountability ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN accuracy ) ( CC and ) ( NN honesty ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN solicitation ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN percentage ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS funds ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB actually ) ) ( VBG going ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( VB work ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-3 ( IN for ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN charity ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB supposedly ) ) ( VP ( VBN established ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Philanthropic Advisory Service of the BBB reviews hundreds of new charities every year measuring them against minimum standards for accountability for accuracy and honesty in solicitation and for percentage of funds actually going to work for which the charity was supposedly established


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Service ) ) ( VP ( VBZ figures ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( NN half ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN money ) ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN spent ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN program ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Service figures at least half of the money taken in should be spent on program


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( QP ( RB Roughly ) ( DT a ) ( JJ third ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS charities ) ) ( VP ( VBN reviewed ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP flunk ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN test ) ) ) )

Roughly a third of the charities reviewed flunk the test


( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT Which ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN added ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB prevent ) ( NP-3 ( DT the ) ( NNS charities ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG raking ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lot ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB anyway ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Which it should be added does n't prevent the charities from raking in a lot of money anyway


( S ( PP ( IN Without ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN microscope ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN subpoena ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB often ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ hard ) ) ( S-1 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sort ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( JJ worthwhile ) ( NNS causes ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNS ripoffs ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP you ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBD got ) ( SBAR-4 ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-CLR ( RP on ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN solicitation ) ) ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Without a microscope and a subpoena it 's often hard to sort out worthwhile causes from ripoffs if all you 've got to go on is the solicitation itself


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( PP ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN basis ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN way ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ average ) ( NN person ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB know ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ good ) ( NN charity ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ bad ) ( CD one ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP David ) ( NNP Ormstedt ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ assistant ) ( NN attorney ) ( NN general ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Connecticut ) ) ) ) ) )

On this basis there 's no way the average person can know a good charity from a bad one says David Ormstedt an assistant attorney general in Connecticut


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN lot ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS donors ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB just ) ) ( VP ( VBP get ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ) ) )

A lot of donors just get taken


( PP ( VBG Including ) ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ contends ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP put ) ( NP ( QP ( RB about ) ( CD 1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN kitty ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Connecticut ) ( NNP Association ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Concerned ) ( NNP Veterans ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Vietnam ) ( NNP Veterans ) ( NNP Service ) ( NNP Center ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Including those he contends who put about 1 million into the kitty for the Connecticut Association of Concerned Veterans and the Vietnam Veterans Service Center


( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN sued ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS charities ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN state ) ( NN court ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG complaining ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( JJ much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN money ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP ( RB grossly ) ) ( VP ( VBN misspent ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( CD 82 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Ormstedt ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD went ) ( PP-DIR-5 ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN fund ) ( NNS raisers ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ=4 ( NP ( JJS most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN rest ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR=5 ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS people ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD ran ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS charities ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS relatives ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN fur ) ( NNS coats ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS trips ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Florida ) ) ) ) ( NP ( JJ Lucullan ) ( NN restaurant ) ( NNS tabs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The state has sued these charities in state court complaining that much of the money was grossly misspent 82 % says Mr. Ormstedt went to fund raisers and most of the rest to the people who ran the charities and to their relatives for fur coats trips to Florida Lucullan restaurant tabs


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN telephone ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN charity ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Shelton ) ) ( NP ( NNP Conn. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN disconnected ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( JJ former ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN located ) ) ) ) ) )

The telephone number for the charity in Shelton Conn. has been disconnected and the former officials could n't be located


( S ( S ( S-NOM-SBJ ( VP ( NN Running ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN charity ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( VP ( VB cost ) ( NP ( NN money ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJ reputable ) ( NNS organizations ) ) ( VP ( VBP manage ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB get ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN lion ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS donations ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( RB out ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( SBAR-LOC ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB where ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB really ) ) ( VP ( VBN needed ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Running a charity does cost money but reputable organizations manage to get the lion 's share of donations out to where they are really needed


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Arthritis ) ( NNP Foundation ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP American ) ( NNP Cancer ) ( NNP Society ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP United ) ( NNP Way ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP America ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( DT all ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP spend ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( RB roughly ) ( CD 90 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN income ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS programs ) ) ( RB not ) ( NP ( NN overhead ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Arthritis Foundation the American Cancer Society and the United Way of America all say that they spend roughly 90 % of their income on programs not overhead


( S ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS charities ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ s ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ other ) ( NN way ) ( PRT ( RP around ) ) ) ) )

With some other charities however it s the other way around


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( JJ fledgling ) ( NNP National ) ( NP ( NNP Children ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Cancer ) ( NNP Society ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN example ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD took ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN year ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB finance ) ( NP ( NP ( NN bone-marrow ) ( NNS transplants ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS children ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The fledgling National Children 's Cancer Society for example took in 2.5 million last year to finance bone-marrow transplants for children


( S ( PP ( IN By ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN time ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD paid ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS expenses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 120,000 ) ) ( VP ( VBN left ) ) ( ADJP ( RB not ) ( JJ enough ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB treat ) ( NP ( RB even ) ( CD one ) ( NN child ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

By the time it paid its expenses it only had 120,000 left not enough to treat even one child


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Illinois ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG suing ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN charity ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN fraud ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Chicago ) ) ) ( ADVP-2 ( IN along ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Telesystems ) ( NNP Marketing ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ Houston-based ) ( NN fund ) ( NN raiser ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The state of Illinois is suing the charity for fraud in Chicago along with Telesystems Marketing Inc. its Houston-based fund raiser


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Both ) ) ( VP ( VBP deny ) ( NP ( NN wrongdoing ) ) ) )

Both deny wrongdoing


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN charity ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ admits ) ( S ( VP ( VBG spending ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN lot ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN fund ) ( NN raising ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ necessary ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB establish ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN donor ) ( NN base ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB tap ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( ADJP ( RB much ) ( JJR lower ) ) ( NN cost ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS years ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB come ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The charity admits spending a lot on fund raising but says that was necessary to establish a donor base it can tap at much lower cost in years to come


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Michael ) ( NNP Burns ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS Telesystems ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NN concern ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBN benefited ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN publicity ) ) ( VP ( VBG surrounding ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN case ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG noting ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD three ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS charities ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN signed ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNS clients ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN impressed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN amount ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP National ) ( NNP Children ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Michael Burns president of Telesystems says his concern has only benefited from the publicity surrounding the case noting that three other charities have signed on as clients because they were impressed with the amount he raised for National Children 's


( S ( ADVP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN state ) ( NN court ) ( NN judge ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN allowed ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN charity ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PRT ( RP on ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBG soliciting ) ( NP ( NNS funds ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile a state court judge has allowed the charity to go on soliciting funds


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Enforcers ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB put ) ( NP ( NNS charities ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( ADVP ( RB simply ) ) ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP spend ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN lion ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN income ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NN fund ) ( NN raising ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Enforcers ca n't put charities out of business simply because they spend the lion 's share of their income on fund raising


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN State ) ( NNS laws ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB previously ) ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN yardstick ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN minimum ) ( NNS percentages ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN income ) ) ) ( PRN ( ADVP-TMP ( RB usually ) ) ( NP ( NN half ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-3 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD had ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN spent ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN program ) ) ( PP ( RB rather ) ( IN than ) ( NP ( RB overhead ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT these ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN overturned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Supreme ) ( NNP Court ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

State laws previously used as a yardstick minimum percentages of income usually half that had to be spent on the program rather than overhead but these have been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN ruled ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJ such ) ( NNS laws ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB work ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB stifle ) ( NP ( NN fund ) ( NN raising ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB amount ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG limiting ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS charities ) ( POS ' ) ) ( JJ first-amendment ) ( NN right ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN freedom ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN expression ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It has ruled that such laws might work to stifle fund raising which would amount to limiting the charities ' first-amendment right to freedom of expression


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT This ) ) ( VP ( VBZ puts ) ( PP-PUT ( IN upon ) ( NP ( NNS enforcers ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN burden ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG proving ) ( NP-PRD ( JJ outright ) ( NN fraud ) ( CC or ) ( NN misrepresentation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ such ) ( NNS actions ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN brought ) ( PP-CLR ( IN against ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS hundreds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS charities ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ) ) ) ) )

This puts upon enforcers the burden of proving outright fraud or misrepresentation and such actions have been brought against hundreds of charities recently


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN attorney ) ( NN general ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN office ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Connecticut ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB alone ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN put ) ( NP ( NP ( CD seven ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN out ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ past ) ( NN couple ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN enforcement ) ( NN drive ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG continuing ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB there ) ( CC and ) ( RB elsewhere ) ) ) ) ) )

The attorney general 's office in Connecticut alone has put seven of them out of business over the past couple of years and the enforcement drive is continuing there and elsewhere


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NNS cases ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NNS authorities ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB frequently ) ) ( VP ( VBP zero ) ( PRT ( RP in ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( VBN alleged ) ( NNS misrepresentations ) ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS charities ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NN fund ) ( NNS raisers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In making cases the authorities frequently zero in on alleged misrepresentations made by the charities ' fund raisers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Illinois ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN instance ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN under ) ( NP ( NN investigation ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD 30 ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBG drumming ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS funds ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS charities ) ) ( VP ( VBG soliciting ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB there ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Illinois for instance currently has under investigation 10 of the 30 companies drumming up funds for charities soliciting there


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Enforcers ) ) ( VP ( VBP pay ) ( NP ( JJ special ) ( NN attention ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS operators ) ) ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( NN sweepstakes ) ( NNS prizes ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ additional ) ( NN inducement ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB give ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Enforcers pay special attention to operators using sweepstakes prizes as an additional inducement to give


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Attorneys ) ( JJ general ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS states ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NNP Illinois ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB already ) ) ( VP ( VBG suing ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Watson ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Hughey ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( ADJP ( NNP Alexandria ) ( JJ Va.-based ) ) ( NN outfit ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( NP ( JJ deceptive ) ( NN sweepstakes ) ( NNS ads ) ) ( S-CLR ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB solicit ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS donations ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP American ) ( NNP Heart ) ( NNP Disease ) ( NNP Foundation ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Cancer ) ( NNP Fund ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP America ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Attorneys general in several states including Illinois are already suing Watson & Hughey Co. an Alexandria Va.-based outfit that they say has used deceptive sweepstakes ads to solicit donations for the American Heart Disease Foundation and the Cancer Fund of America


( S ( PP ( VBG According ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Illinois ) ( NN attorney ) ( NN general ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN suit ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Watson ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Hughey ) ) ( VP ( VBD sent ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS mailings ) ) ( VP ( VBG indicating ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS recipients ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN guaranteed ) ( NP ( NN cash ) ( NNS prizes ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB win ) ( PP-NOM ( IN up ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ additional ) ( CD 1,000 ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN top ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD contributed ) ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ little ) ( IN as ) ( CD 7 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

According to the Illinois attorney general 's suit Watson & Hughey sent mailings indicating that recipients were guaranteed cash prizes and could win up to an additional 1,000 on top of them if they contributed as little as 7


( S ( CC But ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ total ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS prizes ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD 5,000 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJS most ) ( NNS winners ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB receive ) ( NP ( QP ( RB just ) ( CD 10 ) ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN attorney ) ( NN general ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN office ) ) ) ) )

But the total value of the prizes was only 5,000 and most winners will receive just 10 cents according to the attorney general 's office


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN suit ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB still ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( VBG pending ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Illinois ) ( NN state ) ( NN court ) ) ) ) )

The suit is still pending in Illinois state court


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Watson ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Hughey ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN denied ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS allegations ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN court ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBP decline ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB comment ) ( ADVP ( RBR further ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Watson & Hughey has denied the allegations in court officials decline to comment further


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB target ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ obvious ) ) ( NNS miscreants ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS enforcers ) ) ( VP ( VBP concede ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB only ) ) ( VP ( VBG scratching ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN surface ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

While they can target some of the most obvious miscreants enforcers concede that they are only scratching the surface


( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( EX There ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ many ) ) ( JJ cunning ) ( NNS ploys ) ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ many ) ) ( JJ dubious ) ( NNS operators ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB probably ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ impossible ) ) ( S-2 ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stop ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ( NP ( DT all ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

There are so many cunning ploys used by so many dubious operators they say that it is probably impossible to stop them all


( NP ( NP ( CD One ) ( NN maneuver ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ public ) ( NN education ) ( NN gambit ) ) )

One maneuver the public education gambit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN solicitation ) ( NN material ) ) ( VP ( VBZ indicates ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS donations ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( PP-DIR ( IN toward ) ( S-NOM ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NN campaign ) ) ( VP ( VBG alerting ) ( CC and ) ( VBG informing ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN public ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( ADJP ( NN health ) ( CC or ) ( JJ other ) ) ( NN issue ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The solicitation material indicates that donations will go toward a campaign alerting and informing the public about some health or other issue


( S ( SBAR-NOM-SBJ ( WHNP-1 ( WP What ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB say ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN entire ) ( NN campaign ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ fund-raising ) ( NN letter ) ) ( NP ( PRP itself ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

What it does n't say is that the entire campaign may be the fund-raising letter itself


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( ADVP-TMP ( DT All ) ( RB too ) ( RB often ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( ADVP ( RB merely ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN statement ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN solicitation ) ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( S ( S ( VP ( VBP Do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB smoke ) ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( S ( VP ( VB Wear ) ( NP ( NN suntan ) ( NN lotion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP William ) ( NNP Webster ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN attorney ) ( NN general ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Missouri ) ) ) ) ) )

All too often this will merely be a statement on the solicitation such as Do n't smoke or Wear suntan lotion says William Webster attorney general of Missouri


( S ( PP-MNR ( IN By ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( JJ pithy ) ( NNS statements ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS solicitations ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNS hundreds ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS thousands ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS dollars ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN claimed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN spent ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN education ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNS consumers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-3 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN fact ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VBZ represents ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG sending ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS newsletters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

By putting these pithy statements on the solicitations hundreds of thousands of dollars are claimed to have been spent on education to consumers when in fact this represents the costs of sending the newsletters


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Webster ) ) ( VP ( VBZ cites ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ four-page ) ( NN mailing ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP United ) ( NNP Cancer ) ( NNP Council ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ offers ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN chance ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB win ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 5,000 ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ gold ) ( NN bullion ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ) ( VP ( VBG giving ) ( NP ( QP ( RB as ) ( JJ little ) ( IN as ) ( CD 5 ) ) ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN cancer ) ( NN education ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Webster cites a four-page mailing from the United Cancer Council that offers a chance to win 5,000 in gold bullion to those giving as little as 5 to cancer education


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ few ) ( NN boilerplate ) ( NNS warnings ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( NN cancer ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP appear ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( QP ( RB only ) ( CD two ) ) ( NNS inches ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT all ) ( CD four ) ( NNS pages ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A few boilerplate warnings about cancer appear but that 's only two inches in all four pages


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT some ) ( NNS people ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG helping ) ( S ( VP ( VB fund ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ massive ) ( NN TV ) ( CC and ) ( NN print ) ( NN campaign ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB find ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN charity ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( NP ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ( PP ( IN except ) ( FRAG ( VP ( VB write ) ( NP ( DT these ) ( NNS letters ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

I think some people may believe they 're helping fund a massive TV and print campaign but we could n't find that the charity does anything except write these letters he says


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Officials ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( NNP Washington ) ( JJ D.C.-based ) ) ( NN charity ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB return ) ( NP ( VBN repeated ) ( NN phone ) ( NNS calls ) ) ) ) )

Officials at the Washington D.C.-based charity did n't return repeated phone calls


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ Many ) ( JJ fly-by-night ) ( NNS charities ) ) ( VP ( VBP ride ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS coattails ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( JJS biggest ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ best-known ) ) ( CC and ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ reputable ) ) ) ( NNS ones ) ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG adopting ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS names ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ similar ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ theirs ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Many fly-by-night charities ride the coattails of the biggest best-known and most reputable ones by adopting names similar to theirs


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( VBN established ) ( NNS charities ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN bothered ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT this ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( RB little ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN about ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The established charities are bothered by this but say they can do little about it


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( MD ca ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB police ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ many ) ( NNS organizations ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN sprung ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ last ) ( JJ few ) ( NNS years ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( NP ( NN part ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN name ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We ca n't police the many organizations that have sprung up in the last few years using part of our name


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJS Most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB last ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( ADJP ( JJ long ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN meantime ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT all ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB do ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VB tell ) ( NP ( NNS people ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN connected ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokeswoman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP American ) ( NNP Heart ) ( NNP Association ) ) ) ) )

Most of them do n't last for long but in the meantime all we can do is tell people they are n't connected with us says a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association


( S ( CC And ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB sometimes ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ reputable ) ( NN charity ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN household ) ( NN name ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ gets ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP ( RB even ) ) ( VP ( VB know ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) )

And sometimes a reputable charity with a household name gets used and does n't even know it


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN couple ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Rockford ) ) ( NP ( NNP Ill. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD raised ) ( NP ( CD 12,591 ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN name ) ( CC and ) ( NN logo ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Mothers ) ) ( PP ( IN Against ) ( NP ( NNP Drunk ) ( NNP Driving ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( NP ( NN permission ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN group ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A couple in Rockford Ill. raised 12,591 earlier this year using the name and logo of Mothers Against Drunk Driving without permission from the group


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP MADD ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB learn ) ( PP-CLR ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN fund ) ( NN raising ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN until ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN couple ) ) ( VP ( VBD sent ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN check ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( CD 613 ) ) ) ( ADVP ( IN along ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN letter ) ) ( VP ( VBG saying ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN charity ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

MADD did n't learn of the fund raising until the couple sent it a check for 613 along with a letter saying that was the charity 's share


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Illinois ) ( NNP Attorney ) ( NNP General ) ) ( VP ( VBD won ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN court ) ( NN order ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB prevent ) ( NP-1 ( DT the ) ( NN couple ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG raising ) ( NP ( JJ further ) ( NNS funds ) ) ( PP ( IN without ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP MADD ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN permission ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Illinois Attorney General won a court order to prevent the couple from raising further funds without MADD 's permission


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN couple ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VP ( VBN reached ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN comment ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB apparently ) ) ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN left ) ( NP ( NNP Rockford ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NN law ) ( NN enforcement ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBP report ) ) )

The couple could n't be reached for comment and apparently have left Rockford law enforcement officials report


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Denise ) ( NNP McDonald ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN spokeswoman ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP MADD ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ scary ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN anybody ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( NN this ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Denise McDonald a spokeswoman for MADD says It 's scary because anybody could do this


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Johnson ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN staff ) ( NN reporter ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Wall ) ( NNP Street ) ( NNP Journal ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Chicago ) ( NN bureau ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Johnson is a staff reporter in The Wall Street Journal 's Chicago bureau


( NP ( NP ( NN Overhead ) ( NNS costs ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ( NNS charities ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS millions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS dollars ) ) ) ) ) )

Overhead costs at some of the largest charities in millions of dollars


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ko ) ( NNP Shioya ) ) ( VP ( VBD spent ) ( NP ( CD eight ) ( NNS years ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN editor ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN chief ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Japanese ) ( NN edition ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Reader ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Digest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ko Shioya spent eight years as the editor in chief of the Japanese edition of Reader 's Digest


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Japan ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ major ) ( NN importer ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ foreign ) ( NN information ) ( CC and ) ( NN news ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Shioya ) ) )

Japan has been a major importer of foreign information and news says Mr. Shioya


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP one ) ) ( VP ( VBZ gets ) ( VP ( VBN fed ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG importing ) ( NP ( NN information ) ( CC and ) ( NN news ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But one gets fed up with importing information and news


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Shioya ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN turned ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS tables ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Shioya has turned the tables


( S ( NP-TMP ( NN Today ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN publisher ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Tokyo ) ( NN magazine ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( JJ English-language ) ( NN business ) ( NN magazine ) ) ( VP ( VBN devoted ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NN coverage ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Today he is publisher of Business Tokyo magazine the first English-language business magazine devoted to coverage of Japanese business


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN After ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ slick ) ( NN redesign ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( JJ two-year-old ) ( NN magazine ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN relaunched ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( NN month ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN parent ) ( NN company ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Keizaikai ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Tokyo-based ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS interests ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ financial ) ( NNS services ) ) ( NP ( NN book ) ( NN publishing ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN tourist ) ( NN agency ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After a slick redesign the two-year-old magazine has been relaunched this month by its parent company Keizaikai Corp. the Tokyo-based company with interests that include financial services book publishing and a tourist agency


( S ( S-ADV ( VP ( VP ( NNP Printed ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG carrying ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN line ) ( NX-TTL ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP Insider ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Japan ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Tokyo ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP October ) ( NN cover ) ( NN story ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP-TTL ( NP ( DT The ) ( NNP World ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN No. ) ( CD 1 ) ( NN Customer ) ) ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS women ) ) ) ) )

Printed in the U.S. and carrying the line The Insider 's Japan Business Tokyo 's October cover story was The World 's No. 1 Customer Japanese women


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Keizaikai ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( CD one ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( JJ small ) ( CC but ) ( VBG growing ) ) ( NN band ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( VP ( VBG taking ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ first ) ( NNS steps ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ American ) ( NN publishing ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN after ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( JJ major ) ( NNS investments ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN entertainment ) ( JJ real ) ( NN estate ) ( CC and ) ( NN banking ) ( NNS companies ) ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB here ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Keizaikai is one of a small but growing band of Japanese companies taking their first steps into American publishing after making major investments in entertainment real estate and banking companies here


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS concerns ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN retained ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN publishing ) ( NNS consultants ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNS media ) ( NNS brokers ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB study ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP New ) ( JJ York-based ) ( NN investment ) ( NN banker ) ) ( NP ( NNP Veronis ) ( NNP Suhler ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Associates ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Japanese concerns have retained a number of publishing consultants and media brokers to study the U.S. market including the New York-based investment banker Veronis Suhler & Associates


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB quietly ) ) ( VP ( VBG linking ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN publishing ) ( NN trade ) ( NNS groups ) ) ) ) ) )

And they are quietly linking up with U.S. publishing trade groups


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ-2 ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS publishers ) ) ( VP ( VBP want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN introduced ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN publishing ) ( CC and ) ( NN information ) ( NNS industries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP John ) ( NNP Veronis ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Veronis ) ( NNP Suhler ) ) ) ) ) )

Japanese publishers want to be introduced to the publishing and information industries said John Veronis chairman of Veronis Suhler


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT any ) ( JJ major ) ( NNS deals ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS works ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( PP-1 ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN scale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Sony ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ recent ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 3.4 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN agreement ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NNP Columbia ) ( NNP Pictures ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS observers ) ) ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB rule ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN transaction ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN size ) ) ) ) ) ) )

While there are n't any major deals in the works currently on the scale of Sony Corp. 's recent 3.4 billion agreement to buy Columbia Pictures Entertainment Inc. observers do n't rule out a transaction of that size


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS Japanese ) ) ( VP ( VBP take ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ long ) ( NN view ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Veronis ) ) )

The Japanese take the long view said Mr. Veronis


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( RB not ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NNS weeks ) ( CC or ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ opportunistic ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP feel ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ comfortable ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB move ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN deal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

It may not be weeks or months but they are also opportunistic and if they feel comfortable they will move on a deal he said


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( JJ recent ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( CD three ) ( JJ big ) ( JJ Tokyo-based ) ( NN publishing ) ( NNS concerns ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nikkei ) ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Publications ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nikkei ) ( NNP Home ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( DT no ) ( NN relation ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Magazine ) ( NNP House ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD applied ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN membership ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Magazine ) ( NNP Publishers ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP America ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ represents ) ( NP ( RB almost ) ( DT all ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN consumer ) ( NNS magazines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In recent months three big Tokyo-based publishing concerns including Nikkei Business Publications Nikkei Home no relation and Magazine House applied for membership in Magazine Publishers of America which represents almost all U.S. consumer magazines


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NN involvement ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ American ) ( NN publishing ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ small ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN date ) ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS magazines ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Tokyo ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN considered ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NNS groundbreakers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Japanese involvement in American publishing has been so small to date that magazines such as Business Tokyo are considered groundbreakers


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Keizaikai ) ) ( VP ( VBD launched ) ( NP ( NNP Business ) ( NNP Tokyo ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD appealed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ multinational ) ) ( NN audience ) ) ) ) )

When Keizaikai launched Business Tokyo in 1987 it appealed to a more multinational audience


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN magazine ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN overhauled ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN aid ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ American ) ( NN magazine ) ( NN design ) ( NNS gurus ) ( NX ( NX ( NNP Milton ) ( NNP Glaser ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( NNP Walter ) ( NNP Bernard ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ targets ) ( NP ( JJ top-level ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS executives ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( ADJP ( JJ Japanese ) ( CC and ) ( JJ American ) ) ( NNS advertisers ) ) ) ) ) )

The magazine was overhauled with the aid of American magazine design gurus Milton Glaser and Walter Bernard and targets top-level U.S. executives with Japanese and American advertisers


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ American ) ( NNS publishers ) ) ( VP ( VBP appear ) ( ADJP ( ADVP ( RBR more ) ( IN than ) ) ( JJ ready ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( VBG selling ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

American publishers appear more than ready to do some selling


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Susumu ) ( NNP Ohara ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Nihon ) ( NNP Keizai ) ( NNP Shinbun ) ( NNP America ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN publisher ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Japan ) ( NNP Economic ) ( NNP Journal ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ receives ) ( NP ( NP ( NN telephone ) ( NNS calls ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB weekly ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNS media ) ( NNS bankers ) ) ) ( PP-1 ( IN on ) ( SBAR ( CC whether ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP$ his ) ( NN parent ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ interested ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN consumer ) ( CC or ) ( NN business ) ( NN magazine ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Susumu Ohara president of Nihon Keizai Shinbun America Inc. publisher of the Japan Economic Journal said he receives telephone calls weekly from media bankers on whether his parent company is interested in buying a U.S. consumer or business magazine


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS Japanese ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( PP-LOC-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ early ) ( NN stage ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB right ) ( RB now ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Thomas ) ( NNP Kenney ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ onetime ) ( NN media ) ( NN adviser ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP First ) ( NNP Boston ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( VP ( VBN appointed ) ( S ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN president ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Reader ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Digest ) ( NNP Association ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ new ) ( NNP Magazine ) ( NNP Publishing ) ( NNP Group ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Japanese are in the early stage right now said Thomas Kenney a onetime media adviser for First Boston Corp. who was recently appointed president of Reader 's Digest Association 's new Magazine Publishing Group


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( IN Before ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ interested ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ hard ) ( NNS assets ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBD saw ) ( NP ( NNS magazines ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( ADJP ( JJ soft ) ) ) ) ) )

Before they were interested in hard assets and they saw magazines as soft


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP realize ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS magazines ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( RB much ) ) ( DT a ) ( NN franchise ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Nabisco ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN franchise ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Now they realize magazines are as much a franchise as Nabisco is a franchise