Also. . .

Gemstar International Group Ltd., marketer of VCR Plus recording technology, is countersuing Scientific-Atlanta Inc., alleging patent infringement and escalating a legal battle over on-screen TV program guides. Gemstar’s suit, which seeks an injunction and monetary damages, claims Scientific-Atlanta is infringing its patents by offering cable TV set-top boxes containing an interactive guide using locally stored data. Scientific-Atlanta last week sued Gemstar, claiming the Pasadena-based company is trying to monopolize and restrain development of on-screen guides.

* Betty Ann Rubin, owner of the defunct Beverly Hills-based Lazar Frederick & Co. securities brokerage, agreed to be barred from the securities industry in a settlement of Securities and Exchange Commission allegations that she conducted a Ponzi-like scheme. Rubin, 50, agreed to the ban without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations that she defrauded more than 2,000 people who paid $35 million for interests in oil and gas wells. Rubin could not be reached for comment.

* Santa Monica-based Macerich Co. said it formed a joint venture with the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board to buy four shopping malls for less than the $625 million analysts expected, expanding its West Coast holdings. Macerich, one of the largest mall owners in the U.S., and the pension fund agreed to buy the properties in the Northwest from insurer Safeco Corp.

* Commerce-based Smart & Final Inc., an operator of grocery warehouse stores, said it will offer shareholders the right to buy about $60 million in stock under a plan to repay a loan to its biggest shareholder, Casino USA Inc. Smart & Final said it expects to issue about 6 million shares.

* Beverly Hills-based Earl Scheib Inc. elected Chris Bement president and chief executive, effective Jan. 1. Bement has been vice president and chief operating officer since 1995.