COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Times Mirror Sued Over Cable Plan: Times Mirror Co., publisher of the Los Angeles Times, has been sued by at least three shareholders over its plan to spin off its cable television operations. The lawsuits claim that the plan, which would merge Times Mirror’s cable operations with those of Cox Cable Communications in a $2.3-billion deal, would unfairly favor members of the founding Chandler family, who own 55% of the company’s voting stock. Los Angeles-based Times Mirror confirmed that three shareholder lawsuits have been filed in Delaware, where the company is incorporated. Wire service reports said that as many as five or six lawsuits have been filed this week. A Times Mirror spokesman said the company had no further comment.