OTHER NEWS - April 3, 1993

Federal Judge Allows Sears to Issue Visa Cards: U.S. District Judge Dee Benson upheld a jury’s decision that Sears Roebuck & Co. may issue Visa credit cards over the objection of Visa USA. A jury ruled last November that Visa USA’s refusal to let Sears, Roebuck & Co.’s Dean Witter group issue Prime Option Visa cards was a restraint of trade. However, the judge did not lift an injunction he issued previously that prevents Sears from mailing out credit-card applications, a Sears spokesman said. But because the judge’s 107-page order made no reference to the injunction, it is still in force, the spokesman said. He said Dean Witter has not yet decided if it will ask the judge to remove the injunction.