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Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

'Project Runway' script suit is filed

A man has sued the producers and sponsors of the hit reality show ``Project Runway,'' alleging that the Emmy-nominated show was based on a script that was rejected by producers two years ago.

Joel Lamontagne filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. He claims he pitched a show called ``America's Fashion Designer Search'' to a producer with Los Angeles-based Project Greenlight in February 2003.

Lamontagne claims producer Tony Yates asked to see the material but ultimately told him the company was too busy with other shows.

Last-minute date for shopping seen

ST. LOUIS - When it comes to holiday shopping, this might be the year of the procrastinator.

The busiest shopping hour of the year won't likely happen on the Friday after Thanksgiving, but rather the afternoon of Christmas Eve, according to an annual analysis conducted by MasterCard International Inc.

MasterCard predicts the busiest hour of shopping this year will be 10 to 11 a.m. PST on Dec. 24.

The analysis also found that shopping in the evening and morning hours is the best way to avoid long lines and crowded parking lots, said Linda Locke, a spokeswoman for Purchase, N.Y.-based MasterCard International, whose data office is based in suburban St. Louis.

MasterCard analyzes about 900 million credit card transactions each November and December to gauge shopping patterns for the next holiday season. This year, it also conducted a consumer survey and found that respondents wanted to reduce the time they spend shopping, Locke said.

Ohio Hoover plant set to close down

NORTH CANTON, Ohio - A Hoover Co. production line that makes machines used to clean floors and carpets will shut down, likely eliminating 275 jobs by year end as the company's parent shifts work to lower-cost plants.

The Eagle line's injection molding machines will go to El Paso, Texas, with final assembly of the floor-cleaning extractors in Juarez, Mexico, said Jim Repace, president of Local 1985 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The machines put water and cleaning liquid onto carpet or hard floors and suck dirt and the water back into a container.

The North Canton plant has about 1,075 hourly workers, down from about 1,500 as recently as 2003.

Morgan Stanley settlements inked

WASHINGTON - Former Morgan Stanley President Stephan F. Newhouse will receive $17.4 million from Morgan Stanley under a settlement, the financial-services company disclosed Wednesday.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Morgan Stanley said it signed settlements with executives who resigned in April.

Vikram Pandit, former president and operating chief of the institutional securities division, will receive $9 million under the agreement.

John Havens, former head of the institutional equity division, will receive $7.9 million, the filing said.

The departure of the three executives in April took place around the time that Morgan Stanley came under pressure from a group of prominent company alumni to oust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Philip Purcell. Purcell was forced to take early retirement at the end of June.

Energy price drop may mean job rise

WASHINGTON - Falling energy prices have economists believing improvement is on the way for hiring, which has been mired in a hurricane-related lethargy for the last few months.

When the government's new snapshot of the nation's employment climate is released next week, many economists are forecasting payrolls will have grown by more than 200,000 for November, a solid rebound from two dreary months.

The rationale behind this expected bounce back: Business people are in a better frame of mind and more inclined to step up hiring now that energy prices have retreated from record highs.