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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 21, 2001
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 1-7850 88-0085720
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
5241 Spring Mountain Road
Post Office Box 98510
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8510
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (702) 876-7237
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Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure
The dismissal of claims against Southwest Gas Corporation (the Company) and
ONEOK, Inc. (ONEOK), asserted by Southern Union Company (Southern Union) under
the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) was upheld
on May 21, 2001, by Judge Roslyn O. Silver of the Federal District Court in
Phoenix, Arizona. The Court's Order, filed May 23, 2001, denied Southern Union's
request for reconsideration of the Court's December 15, 2000 decision to dismiss
federal racketeering claims made by Southern Union against the Company.
In addition, the Order dismisses Arizona state RICO allegations brought by
Southern Union against the Company. Southern Union's federal and Arizona state
RICO claims against the Company's Chairman of the Board Thomas Hartley, the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Maffie, and the
Company's Executive Vice President/Consumer Resources and Energy Services Edward
Zub, ONEOK, Arizona Corporation Commissioner James Irvin, and several other
individuals were also dismissed by the Court.
The May 21 Court Order also declines to allow Southern Union to immediately
appeal the Court's dismissal of the federal and state RICO counts. Instead, an
appeal, if any, of the Court's dismissal will occur in the normal course after
the conclusion of a trial on the merits. A trial date of November 12, 2001 is
presently set. It is anticipated that the trial could last two to three months.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
Date: May 25, 2001 /s/ EDWARD A. JANOV
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Edward A. Janov
Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer