NEWS FROM 2009

A small, disadvantaged, woman-owned business located in a HUBZone filed a lawsuit today in federal court against major defense contractor Kellogg Brown & Root ("KBR"). The complaint, filed on behalf of Hilda Parker and Parker Products, Inc. alleges that KBR defrauded her company by falsely promising that it would order millions of dollars worth of products to fulfill its prime contract obligations with the Department of Defense.

A federal judge approved a wrongful death settlement that will pay an amount in excess of $236,000 for the minor children of a man who committed suicide while he was confined in the Bladen County Jail in Elizabethtown, North Carolina.

A Superior Court judge approved a wrongful death settlement that will pay an amount in excess of $600,000 to the minor child of a man who committed suicide while he was confined in the Columbus County Jail in Whiteville, North Carolina.

Blue, a former House Speaker, was sworn in to fill the seat of Sen. Vernon Malone, who died last month. He received a hearty welcome from his new colleagues after a swearing-in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker and attended by family members.

Blue, who was elected to the board in 1995, had most recently served as vice chairman, reports Mark Schultz. He assumes the new position July 1. He received a bachelor’s degree from N.C. Central University in 1970 and a law degree from Duke in 1973.