
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 25, 1993                   TAG: 9308250103
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CONWAY, ARK.                                LENGTH: Short

ACCOUNTANT: WAL-MART DIDN'T HURT DRUGSTORES

Although three drugstores accuse Wal-Mart of trying to ruin them with predatory pricing, the merchants have had higher sales and profits since the nation's largest retailer opened its own pharmacy here, an accountant testified Tuesday.

"I see no damage in this case," testified Stephen Humphries, a certified public accountant, in the second day of trial in a $1.1 million lawsuit the independent pharmacies brought against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Humphries said the plaintiffs' operations showed steady growth in sales and profits since 1988.

Lawyers gave closing arguments Tuesday and Judge David Reynolds gave each side 10 days to submit additional briefs and 10 more days to respond to each other. The judge said he probably would rule within a month after that. - Associated Press

by CNB