1
 General Motors Corp. 's general counsel hopes to cut the number of outside law firms 
5001
span

2
the auto maker uses 
1
elaboration-object-attribute-e

3
from about 700 to 200 within two years.
5002
Same-Unit

4
 Harry J. Pearce, 
5003
span

5
named general counsel in May 1987, 
4
elaboration-additional-e

6
says 
5004
Same-Unit

7
the reduction is a cost-cutting measure and an effort
5006
span

8
 to let the No. 1 auto maker's 134-lawyer in-house legal department take on matters 
5007
span

9
it is better equipped and trained to handle.
8
elaboration-object-attribute-e

10
 GM trimmed about 40 firms from its approved local counsel list, 
5009
span

11
Mr. Pearce says.
10
attribution

12
 The move is consistent with a trend 
5012
span

13
for corporate legal staffs to do more work in-house, 
5013
Contrast

14
instead of farming it out to law firms.
5013
Contrast

15
 Mr. Pearce set up GM's first in-house litigation group in May with four lawyers, all former assistant U.S. attorneys with extensive trial experience.
5017
span

16
 He intends to add to the litigation staff.
15
elaboration-additional

17
 Among the types of cases 
5018
span

18
the in-house litigators handle 
17
elaboration-object-attribute-e

19
are disputes 
5020
span

20
involving companies 
5021
span

21
doing business with GM and product-related actions,
20
elaboration-object-attribute-e

22
 including one 
5024
span

23
in which a driver is suing GM for damages 
5023
span

24
resulting from an accident. 
23
result-e

25
 Mr. Pearce has also encouraged his staff to work more closely with GM's technical staffs 
5026
span

26
to help prevent future litigation.
25
purpose

27
 GM lawyers have been working with technicians 
5033
span

28
to develop more uniform welding procedures 
27
purpose

29
-- the way 
5030
span

30
a vehicle is welded 
29
elaboration-object-attribute-e

31
has a lot to do with its durability.
5031
Same-Unit

32
 The lawyers also monitor suits
5034
span

33
 to identify specific automobile parts 
5035
span

34
that cause the biggest legal problems.
33
elaboration-object-attribute-e

35
 Mr. Pearce says 
5039
attribution

36
law firms with the best chance 
5038
span

37
of retaining or winning business with GM 
36
elaboration-object-attribute-e

38
will be those 
5041
span

39
providing the highest-quality service at the best cost 
38
elaboration-object-attribute-e

40
-- echoing similar directives from GM's auto operations to suppliers. 
5040
restatement

41
 This doesn't necessarily mean larger firms have an advantage; 
5047
span

42
Mr. Pearce said 
5046
attribution

43
GM works with a number of smaller firms
5046
span

44
 it regards highly.
43
elaboration-object-attribute-e

45
 Mr. Pearce has shaken up GM's legal staff
5050
span

46
 by eliminating all titles 
5049
List

47
and establishing several new functions, 
5052
span

48
including a special-projects group 
5051
span

49
that has made films on safety and drunk driving. 
48
elaboration-object-attribute-e

50
 FEDERAL PROSECUTORS are concluding fewer criminal cases with trials.
5054
span

51
 That's a finding of a new study of the Justice Department by researchers at Syracuse University.
50
attribution

52
 David Burnham, one of the authors, says 
53
attribution

53
fewer trials probably means a growing number of plea bargains.
5055
span

54
 In 1980, 18% of federal prosecutions concluded at trial; 
5057
Comparison

55
in 1987, only 9% did. 
5057
Comparison

56
 The study covered 11 major U.S. attorneys' offices 
5059
span

57
-- including those in Manhattan and Brooklyn, N.Y., and New Jersey -- 
56
elaboration-set-member-e

58
from 1980 to 1987.
5060
Same-Unit

59
 The Justice Department rejected the implication 
60
attribution

60
that its prosecutors are currently more willing to plea bargain.
5062
span

61
 Our felony caseloads have been consistent for 20 years, 
5065
span

62
with about 15% of all prosecutions going to trial,
61
manner

63
 a department spokeswoman said.
5065
attribution

64
 The discrepancy is somewhat perplexing in that the Syracuse researchers said 
65
attribution

65
they based their conclusions on government statistics.
5067
span

66
 One possible explanation for this decline 
5069
span

67
in taking cases to trial, 
66
elaboration-object-attribute-e

68
says Mr. Burnham, 
5069
attribution-e

69
is that the number of defendants 
5071
span

70
being charged with crimes by all U.S. attorneys 
69
elaboration-object-attribute-e

71
has substantially increased. 
5073
Same-Unit

72
 In 1980, 
5075
span

73
the study says, 
72
attribution-e

74
prosecutors surveyed filed charges against 25 defendants for each 100,000 people 
5076
span

75
aged 18 years and older.
74
elaboration-object-attribute-e

76
 In 1987, prosecutors filed against 35 defendants for every 100,000 adults.
5078
Comparison

77
 Another finding from the study: 
5080
span

78
Prosecutors set significantly different priorities.
5085
span

79
 The Manhattan U.S. attorney's office stressed criminal cases from 1980 to 1987, 
5081
span

80
averaging 43 for every 100,000 adults.
79
evaluation-s

81
 But the New Jersey U.S. attorney averaged 16. 
5082
Contrast

82
On the civil side, the Manhattan prosecutor filed an average of only 11 cases for every 100,000 adults during the same period;
5083
Contrast

83
 the San Francisco U.S. attorney averaged 79. 
5083
Contrast

84
 The study is to provide reporters, academic experts and others raw data 
5086
span

85
on which to base further inquiries.
84
elaboration-object-attribute-e

86
 IMELDA MARCOS asks for dismissal,
5091
List

87
 says 
88
attribution

88
she was kidnapped. 
5090
span

89
 The former first lady of the Philippines, asked a federal court in Manhattan to dismiss an indictment against her, 
5093
span

90
claiming among other things, 
91
attribution

91
that she was abducted from her homeland.
5092
span

92
 Mrs. Marcos and her late husband, former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, were charged with embezzling more than $100 million from that country and then fraudulently concealing much of the money through purchases of prime real estate in Manhattan.
5094
circumstance

93
 Mrs. Marcos's attorneys asked federal Judge John F. Keenan to give them access to all U.S. documents about her alleged abduction.
5103
span

94
 The U.S. attorney's office, in documents 
5096
span

95
it filed in response, 
94
elaboration-object-attribute-e

96
said 
5099
Same-Unit

97
Mrs. Marcos was making the fanciful 
5097
span

98
-- and factually unsupported -- 
97
elaboration-additional-e

99
claim 
5101
span

100
that she was kidnapped into this country 
5100
span

101
in order to obtain classified material in the case.
100
purpose

102
 The office also said 
5105
attribution

103
Mrs. Marcos and her husband weren't brought to the U.S. against their will 
5105
span

104
after Mr. Marcos was ousted as president. 
103
temporal-after

105
The prosecutor quoted statements from the Marcoses 
5107
span

106
in which they said 
5108
attribution

107
they were in this country at the invitation of President Reagan
5108
List

108
 and that they were enjoying the hospitality of the U.S. 
5108
List

109
 Lawyers for Mrs. Marcos say 
5113
attribution

110
that 
5112
span

111
because she was taken to the U.S. against her wishes, 
110
circumstance-e

112
the federal court lacks jurisdiction in the case.
5113
Same-Unit

113
 THE FEDERAL COURT of appeals in Manhattan ruled 
114
attribution

114
that the dismissal of a 1980 indictment against former Bank of Crete owner George Koskotas should be reconsidered. 
5116
span

115
The indictment, 
5118
span

116
which was sealed 
5117
List

117
and apparently forgotten by investigators until 1987, 
5117
List

118
charges Mr. Koskotas and three others with tax fraud and other violations.
5119
Same-Unit

119
 He made numerous trips to the U.S. in the early 1980s, 
5123
antithesis

120
but wasn't arrested until 1987 
5123
span

121
when he showed up as a guest of then-Vice President George Bush at a government function. 
120
circumstance

122
A federal judge in Manhattan threw out the indictment, 
5126
span

123
finding 
124
attribution

124
that the seven-year delay violated the defendant's constitutional right to a speedy trial.
5125
span

125
 The appeals court, however, said 
5128
attribution

126
the judge didn't adequately consider 
127
attribution-n

127
whether the delay would actually hurt the chances of a fair trial.
5128
span

128
 Mr. Koskotas is fighting extradition proceedings 
5133
span

129
that would return him to Greece,
128
elaboration-object-attribute-e

130
 where he is charged with embezzling more than $250 million from the Bank of Crete.
5133
elaboration-general-specific

131
 His attorney couldn't be reached for comment. 
5135
elaboration-additional

132
 PRO BONO VOLUNTARISM: 
5154
TextualOrganization
Title
133
In an effort 
5137
span

134
to stave off a plan 
5138
span

135
that would require all lawyers in New York state to provide twenty hours of free legal aid a year, 
134
elaboration-object-attribute-e

136
the state bar recommended an alternative program 
5140
span

137
to increase voluntary participation in pro bono programs.
136
elaboration-object-attribute-e

138
 The state bar association's policy making body, the House of Delegate, voted Saturday to ask Chief Judge Sol Wachtler to give the bar's voluntary program three years to prove its effectiveness 
5142
span

139
before considering mandatory pro bono. 
138
temporal-before

140
We believe 
5144
attribution

141
our suggested plan is more likely to improve the availability of quality legal service to the poor 
5143
Comparison

142
than is the proposed mandatory pro bono plan 
5143
Comparison

143
and will achieve that objective 
5145
span

144
without the divisiveness, distraction, administrative burdens and possible failure 
5149
span

145
that 
5146
span

146
we fear 
145
attribution-e

147
would accompany an attempt 
5148
span

148
to impose a mandatory plan, 
147
elaboration-object-attribute-e

149
said Justin L. Vigdor of Rochester, 
5152
span

150
who headed the bar's pro bono study committee.
149
elaboration-additional-e

151
 DALLAS AND HOUSTON law firms merge: 
5163
TextualOrganization
Title
152
Jackson & Walker, a 130-lawyer firm in Dallas and Datson & Scofield, a 70-lawyer firm in Houston said 
153
attribution

153
they have agreed in principle to merge.
5155
span

154
 The consolidated firm, 
5156
span

155
which would rank among the 10 largest in Texas, 
154
elaboration-additional-e

156
would operate under the name Jackson & Walker.
5157
Same-Unit

157
 The merger must be formally approved by the partners of both firms 
158
antithesis

158
but is expected to be completed by year end. 
5159
span

159
Jackson & Walker has an office in Fort Worth, Texas, 
5161
List

160
and Dotson & Scofield has an office in New Orleans.
5161
List

161
 PILING ON?
5185
TextualOrganization
Title
162
 Piggybacking on government assertions 
5164
span

163
that General Electric Co. may have covered up fraudulent billings to the Pentagon, 
162
elaboration-object-attribute-e

164
two shareholders have filed a civil racketeering suit against the company.
5165
span

165
 The suit was filed by plaintiffs' securities lawyer Richard D. Greenfield in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.
5165
elaboration-additional

166
 He seeks damages from the company's 15 directors on grounds 
5168
span

167
that they either participated in or condoned the illegal acts . . . 
5167
Disjunction

168
or utterly failed to carry out their duties as directors. 
5167
Disjunction

169
GE is defending itself against government criminal charges of fraud and false claims in connection with a logistics-computer contract for the Army.
5169
background

170
 The trial begins today in federal court in Philadelphia.
5170
elaboration-additional

171
 The government's assertions of the cover-up were made in last minute pretrial motions.
5171
elaboration-additional

172
 GE, 
5173
span

173
which vehemently denies the government's allegations, 
172
elaboration-additional-e

174
denounced Mr. Greenfield's suit. 
5174
Same-Unit

175
It is a cheap-shot suit 
5176
span

176
-- procedurally defective and thoroughly fallacious -- 
175
elaboration-additional-e

177
which was hurriedly filed by a contingency-fee lawyer 
5178
span

178
as a result of newspaper reports, 
177
result

179
said a GE spokeswoman.
5177
attribution

180
 She added 
5183
attribution

181
that the company was considering bringing sanctions against Mr. Greenfield 
5183
span

182
for making grossly inaccurate and unsupported allegations. 
181
reason

5001
span
5002
Same-Unit

5002
multinuc
5008
span

5003
span
5004
Same-Unit

5004
multinuc
5006
attribution

5005
span
5002
reason

5006
span
5005
span

5007
span
7
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5008
span
5016
span

5009
span
5008
means

5010
span



5011
span



5012
span
5016
explanation-argumentative

5013
multinuc
12
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5014
span
5015
span

5015
span
5044
span

5016
span
5014
span

5017
span
5027
span

5018
span
5019
Same-Unit

5019
multinuc
5017
elaboration-additional

5020
span
5019
Same-Unit

5021
span
5025
span

5022
span
19
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5023
span
22
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5024
span
5021
example-e

5025
span
5022
span

5026
span
5037
span

5027
span
5028
List

5028
multinuc
5014
enablement

5029
span



5030
span
5031
Same-Unit

5031
multinuc
5033
explanation-argumentative

5032
span
5036
List

5033
span
5032
span

5034
span
5036
List

5035
span
32
purpose

5036
multinuc
5026
consequence-s

5037
span
5028
List

5038
span
5039
Same-Unit

5039
multinuc
5040
span

5040
span
5043
span

5041
span
5039
Same-Unit

5042
span



5043
span
5048
span

5044
span
5053
span

5045
span
41
explanation-argumentative

5046
span
5045
span

5047
span
5043
interpretation-s

5048
span
5015
comment

5049
multinuc
45
means

5050
span
5044
interpretation-s

5051
span
47
elaboration-general-specific-e

5052
span
5049
List

5053
span
5089
Topic-Shift

5054
span
5056
span

5055
span
5058
span

5056
span
5061
span

5057
multinuc
5055
evidence

5058
span
5054
conclusion

5059
span
5060
Same-Unit

5060
multinuc
5056
background

5061
span
5063
span

5062
span
5064
span

5063
span
5068
span

5064
span
5061
antithesis

5065
span
5066
span

5066
span
5062
explanation-argumentative

5067
span
5063
comment

5068
span
5074
span

5069
span
5070
span

5070
span
5073
Same-Unit

5071
span
5073
Same-Unit

5072
span



5073
multinuc
5079
span

5074
span
5087
List

5075
span
5077
Same-Unit

5076
span
5077
Same-Unit

5077
multinuc
5078
Comparison

5078
multinuc
5073
evidence

5079
span
5068
explanation-argumentative

5080
span
5087
List

5081
span
5082
Contrast

5082
multinuc
5084
List

5083
multinuc
5084
List

5084
multinuc
78
evidence

5085
span
77
elaboration-general-specific

5086
span
5087
purpose

5087
multinuc
5088
span

5088
span
5089
Topic-Shift

5089
multinuc



5090
span
5091
List

5091
multinuc
5094
span

5092
span
89
explanation-argumentative

5093
span
5091
summary-n

5094
span
5095
span

5095
span
5104
span

5096
span
5099
Same-Unit

5097
span
5098
Same-Unit

5098
multinuc
5102
span

5099
multinuc
5098
attribution

5100
span
99
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5101
span
5098
Same-Unit

5102
span
93
interpretation-s

5103
span
5095
elaboration-additional

5104
span
5111
span

5105
span
5106
span

5106
span
5110
span

5107
span
5106
evidence

5108
multinuc
5109
span

5109
span
105
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5110
span
5115
Contrast

5111
span
5089
Topic-Shift

5112
span
5113
Same-Unit

5113
multinuc
5114
span

5114
span
5115
Contrast

5115
multinuc
5104
elaboration-additional

5116
span
5120
span

5117
multinuc
115
elaboration-additional-e

5118
span
5119
Same-Unit

5119
multinuc
5116
elaboration-general-specific

5120
span
5132
span

5121
span
5126
background

5122
span



5123
span
5121
span

5124
span



5125
span
122
reason

5126
span
5130
span

5127
span
5129
Contrast

5128
span
5127
span

5129
multinuc
5120
explanation-argumentative

5130
span
5129
Contrast

5131
span



5132
span
5135
Temporal-Same-Time

5133
span
5134
span

5134
span
5135
Temporal-Same-Time

5135
multinuc
5136
span

5136
span
5089
Topic-Shift

5137
span
5139
Same-Unit

5138
span
133
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5139
multinuc
5141
span

5140
span
5139
Same-Unit

5141
span
5153
span

5142
span
5139
elaboration-additional

5143
multinuc
5144
List

5144
multinuc
5150
span

5145
span
5144
List

5146
span
5147
Same-Unit

5147
multinuc
144
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5148
span
5147
Same-Unit

5149
span
143
manner

5150
span
5151
span

5151
span
5141
evaluation-s

5152
span
5150
attribution

5153
span
5154
TextualOrganization
Text
5154
multinuc
5089
Topic-Shift

5155
span
5158
span

5156
span
5157
Same-Unit

5157
multinuc
5155
consequence-s

5158
span
5160
span

5159
span
5158
elaboration-additional

5160
span
5162
span

5161
multinuc
5160
elaboration-additional

5162
span
5163
TextualOrganization
Text
5163
multinuc
5089
Topic-Shift

5164
span
164
circumstance

5165
span
5166
span

5166
span
5169
span

5167
multinuc
166
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5168
span
5166
elaboration-general-specific

5169
span
5170
span

5170
span
5171
span

5171
span
5172
span

5172
span
5175
Contrast

5173
span
5174
Same-Unit

5174
multinuc
5180
span

5175
multinuc
5185
TextualOrganization
Text
5176
span
5177
span

5177
span
5179
span

5178
span
5176
elaboration-object-attribute-e

5179
span
5184
span

5180
span
5175
Contrast

5181
span
5179
elaboration-additional

5182
span



5183
span
5181
span

5184
span
5174
elaboration-general-specific

5185
multinuc
5089
Topic-Shift

