BUSINESS NOTES INSURANCE FIRM SUED BY WORKERS.

Byline: - From staff and wire reports

WOODLAND HILLS - A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against 21st Century Insurance Co., alleging the Woodland Hills-based company has failed to pay overtime to some of its employees.

Orly Requirme, a former litigation examiner, and John Domingo, who works as a claims adjuster, claim they were never paid 1 1/2 times their regular hourly wage when they worked over more than eight hours a day and more than 40 hours per week.

The lawsuit comes one day after an Alameda County jury hit Farmers Insurance Exchange with a $90 million judgment for cheating claims adjusters out of years of overtime.

Lexus dealers top J.D. Power survey

AGOURA HILLS - For the fifth consecutive year, Lexus dealers won the top rating in the J.D. Power and Associates customer service index.

The survey is based on responses from more than 56,000 new vehicle owners and lessees, according to the Agoura Hills-based marketing firm.

General Motors Corp.'s Saturn unit was second in the rankings, for the second straight year.

Showing the most improvement in the survey was GM's Cadillac division in third place, moving up four spots.

One of the keys to Cadillac's improvement is the increased ratio of service related to maintenance, rather than repairs, according to J.D. Power. Cadillac customers also were pleased with the ease of getting their vehicles in for service, the survey said.

'Little House' star to seek SAG post

Melissa Gilbert, former child star of ``Little House on the Prairie,'' plans to run for president of the Screen Actors Guild.

A member of the union's national board, Gilbert, 37 of Calabasas, said Wednesday the board has become factionalized and ``internal politics have overshadowed the real work that SAG should be doing on behalf of our members.''

Ballots go out to SAG members in mid-October, and election results will be announced in early November.

William Daniels, the union's current president, has not decided if he will seek a second term, an aide said.

SAG, AFTRA send members ballots

The heads of the West Coast chapter of the Hollywood performer unions have submitted a tentative contract settlement for a vote by the guilds' nearly 135,000 members.

The East Coast chapter of the guilds, based in New York City, is expected to do the same later this week.

After that, a ratification vote conducted through mail-in ballots will take about five weeks to complete.

Judge: Napster must stay off-line

SAN FRANCISCO - Napster was dealt another serious legal setback Wednesday when a federal judge ordered the song-swap company to remain off-line until it can fully comply with an injunction to remove all copyright music.

That means Napster will need to delay a comeback after being off-line for more than a week.

Napster's counsel told the judge the company felt it could block more than 99 percent of all infringing song files, but the judge shot back, telling Napster it needed to block 100 percent of unauthorized copyright songs or stay off-line indefinitely.

Napster plans to comply with Patel's request to remain off-line. However, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals notified recording industry attorneys Wednesday that Napster plans to appeal Patel's latest order by noon today.