Rachael Ray Host Season 2 August 2007

Ray

NEW YORK

Rachael Ray worker claims anorexia bias

NEW YORK — A former accountant for Rachael Ray's TV cooking show has filed a $1 million lawsuit saying he was forced out of his job because he has an eating disorder.

Aaron Ferguson says in papers filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court that he has suffered from anorexia for about six years. He says his supervisor repeatedly exhibited "hostile behavior" and made "vile," discriminatory and hurtful comments.

The comments included, "Anorexics are sick in the head," and, "Anorexics should not be able to work," his court papers say.

Ferguson says he repeatedly complained about his supervisor's use, in his presence, of discriminatory language regarding anorexics but their superiors did nothing that improved his situation.

The lawsuit, filed late Wednesday, names CBS Corp., CBSTD Inc. and three employees of the show as defendants. Ray is not named as a defendant.

ILLINOIS

United hopes to feast on snack, drink sales

CHICAGO — Starting Aug. 1, passengers who get the midair munchies on select United Airlines flights will be able to buy chips, cookies, candy and trail mix, all for $3 apiece.

What will $3 get you? Jumbo-size snacks, weighing 4 to 5 ounces, that previously weren't available on the flights.

United, the nation's second-largest airline, behind American Airlines, will test the new service on Chicago-Denver and Chicago-Boston flights, plus a handful of other routes.

In addition, United raised the price of alcoholic beverages for passengers flying coach in the U.S. by $1, to $6, as of Tuesday, and it plans to roll out a $1 price increase on Pacific and intra-Asia flights Aug. 1.

The changes were announced to employees in a memo this week and confirmed by a spokeswoman.

United still will distribute half-ounce bags of pretzels, its standard onboard snack, free to penny-pinching passengers. And its sodas and juices will remain free for now, although United won't rule out charging for them in the future, said spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.

ALABAMA

Drug firms to appeal price fraud verdict

MONTGOMERY — Two large pharmaceutical companies said they will appeal a jury verdict ordering them to pay more than $114 million for overcharging the state's Medicaid program for prescription drugs.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Novartis AG announced plans to appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court as the state sent letters to 69 other drug companies telling them they had 30 days to settle drug-pricing lawsuits against them.

GlaxoSmithKline attorney Don Jones said Thursday that the company did not commit fraud, as claimed by the state, and it would appeal its judgment of almost $81 million. Officials with Novartis said they would appeal their "unfounded" $33 million verdict.

The jury returned the judgments Tuesday It was the second trial of the state's lawsuits against more than 70 drug companies.

— From wire reports