American Stores of Irvine asked a three-judge...

American Stores of Irvine asked a three-judge appeals panel to overturn the decision of a lower court and allow the merger of its Alpha Beta and Lucky supermarket chains. The combination--which would make Lucky Stores the nation’s largest supermarket chain--has been on hold since September, when a federal judge halted the merger pending a trial to decide whether it violates antitrust laws. American bought Lucky for $2.5 billion in June. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard the arguments, is unlikely to rule before next year.