ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050106
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
Cancer-test lab pleads no contest
MILWAUKEE - A medical laboratory that misread Pap smears of two women who later died of cervical cancer pleaded no contest Monday to reckless homicide.
As part of a plea agreement between Chem-Bio Corp. and prosecutors, Judge David Hansher did not immediately enter a guilty verdict against the company, which will be allowed to appeal parts of the case.
Terms of the agreement were announced the day the case was set to go to trial.
Sentencing for Chem-Bio on the two charges was scheduled Feb. 22.
Chem-Bio, of suburban Oak Creek, faced a possible fine of $20,000 if convicted of homicide by reckless conduct in the death of Dolores Geary and second-degree reckless homicide in the death of Karin Smith. The two charges are slightly different under Wisconsin law but carry the same maximum penalty.
At an inquest this year, experts testified that Pap smears - gynecological tests for cancer - had repeatedly shown obvious signs of the cancer, which can be treated if caught early. In both cases, the tests were read by the same technologist at Chem-Bio.
- Associated Press
Court picks judge for Okla. bomb case
DENVER - A Colorado judge was appointed Monday to preside over the Oklahoma City bombing trial after the judge who had been assigned the case was ordered to step down because his chambers were damaged in the blast.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appointed U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch, 66, a former federal prosecutor who sits on the Denver bench. The order did not indicate where the trial, previously scheduled for Lawton, Okla., will be held.
The 10th Circuit ruled Friday that U.S. District Judge Wayne Alley of Oklahoma City should be removed from the case because his chambers were damaged in the April 19 bombing, and that could raise doubts about his impartiality.
- Associated Press
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