Former Executive Sues SmithKline Beckman

G. Howard Teeter, former vice chairman of SmithKline Beckman Corp., has filed an $8-million suit against the giant pharmaceutical and instrumentation company, claiming the company failed to properly notify him of the expiration date of a number of stock option plans in which he participated. Teeter, who joined the old Fullerton-based Beckman Instruments Inc. in 1966, was an executive vice president of the company when it merged with Philadelphia-based SmithKline Corp. in 1982. After the merger the Orange County resident became vice chairman of the combined company. He retired in June 1983. Neither Teeter nor officials of SmithKline Beckman could be reached for comment.