The Nation - News from Dec. 6, 1988

A U.S. District Court jury in Brooklyn found that the Long Island Lighting Co. and a former executive engaged in a pattern of lies to obtain rate increases to help pay for its Shoreham nuclear power plant. The verdict under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute awards $22.8 million in damages to Suffolk County and could make Lilco liable for $1.8 billion if the trial judge certifies the suit a class action on behalf of all ratepayers. The utility issued a one-sentence statement that said that Lilco would seek to set the verdict aside or reverse it on appeal. The seven-member jury found that Lilco and a former president, Wilfred O. Uhl, lied to the Public Service Commission on three occasions about the completion schedule of Shoreham in order to obtain rate hikes.