Case says companies had improper negotiations: A series of lawsuits filed across the country claim that Wal-Mart and Netflix benefited illegally when the world’s largest retailer exited the online DVD rental business in 2005. Lawyer Daniel Becnel of Reserve complained in a lawsuit filed Monday in Baton Rouge that Wal-Mart and Netflix improperly negotiated Wal-Mart’s departure from the online video market that previously had only two major competitors, Netflix and Blockbuster. According to Becnel, Wal-Mart’s presence drove down prices and Netflix suffered reduced profits. Wal-Mart would have suffered, too, if Netflix began selling DVDs, so the companies entered an improper agreement, Becnel says in the lawsuit, which alleges antitrust violations. Netflix then began promoting Wal-Mart and Walmart.com as places to buy DVDs. A Netflix spokesman said the company does not comment on pending litigation. Wal-Mart said there was nothing wrong with its decision to stop renting DVDs.
Operating out of I.M. Causey building: Teach for America-South Louisiana has moved into a new office on the first floor of the I.M. Causey & Co. antiques building on Government Street across from McDonald’s. The organization moved into the 3,960-square-foot office earlier this week. Officials with Teach for America say the new space is more than triple the size of their old Spanish Town office. The organization needed the room—they’ve gone from five to eight full-time employees in the past six months.
Participation low: Louisiana has the smallest percentage of high school students passing the Advanced Placement exam. According to the College Board, which gives the test, 3.7% of Louisiana students passed the exam. Maryland ranked highest, with 23.4% of students passing the exam. The A.P. program allows high school students a chance to do college-level work in subjects and earn university credit for passing tests. See the report here.
