A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.

Three Indicted in Telemarketing Scheme: Three operators of the Jason Smith Petroleum Corp. in Los Angeles were charged with mail fraud and securities violations for using a telemarketing scheme to dupe 180 investors out of nearly $2 million nationwide. A 21-count indictment alleges that San Fernando Valley residents Jason Wallace Smith and Ray Martin Hoskins and Los Angeles resident Robert Gene Long used telephone and mail solicitations to entice people to invest in five bogus oil and gas programs from 1985 to 1987. Smith, the key defendant, allegedly embezzled $194,000 of investors funds. (Case No. 90-752. Indictment unsealed Oct. 4.)