Northwest Reportedly Settles Suits: Northwest Airlines has...

Northwest Reportedly Settles Suits: Northwest Airlines has reached tentative settlements in nearly all of the lawsuits filed against it in the wake of the 1987 crash of Flight 255 at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Arizona Republic reported. Opening arguments in the combined trial of negligence lawsuits against Northwest and McDonnell Douglas Corp., manufacturer of the MD-80 jet, are to begin tomorrow in Detroit. But the Phoenix newspaper, citing a statement issued by U.S. District Judge Julian Cook Jr., said Northwest has settled or reached tentative settlements in most of the 157 suits filed against the airline.