From the archives

Some of the businesses hit hard by an April 28, 2004 flood on South San Francisco’s San Mateo Avenue were suing the week of Feb. 11, 2006 the city, county and contractor they believed were responsible for more than $1 million in damages.

The businesses believe the government agencies and the contractor were responsible for leaving the San Mateo Avenue canal for the Colma Creek dammed at both ends during a substantial storm. Without the major canal to divert water from the street, San Mateo Avenue quickly flooded and more than a dozen businesses on the street sustained damage.

The city believed it was being unfairly targeted because the creek was in its limits and public works employees were first to respond to the flooding emergency.

Apple sued over $25 fee

A consumer group the week of Feb. 11, 2006 sued Apple Computer Inc., alleging the iPod nano player was defective because its screen is easily scratched and that the company was breaking its product warranty by charging $25 for replacements.

The lawsuit by the Los Angeles-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights claims the pencil-thin nano — introduced the prior fall — could not endure normal use without getting scratched to the point where it becomes unusable. The suit contended the Cupertino-based iPod maker should warn users accordingly.

The suit, which was filed Feb. 10, 2006 in San Mateo County Superior Court, demanded that Apple recall or repair the defective products for free, or refund the purchase price to dissatisfied customers. It also asked that the Apple add scratching or cracking to its warranty coverage.

Oracle to slash jobs for profits

Business software maker Oracle Corp. announced more than 1,000 job cuts the week of Feb. 11, 2006 as it outlined a course for harvesting higher profits from its recent $5.85 billion takeover of rival Siebel Systems Inc., a person familiar with the plans said.

The cuts were widely anticipated since Redwood Shores-based Oracle announced the acquisition five months prior.

The deal closed the prior week, adding about 4,700 Siebel workers to Oracle’s payroll. Oracle employed about 51,000 workers before the takeover.

Industry analysts have predicted that 1,000 to 2,000 employees would lose their jobs as Siebel is integrated.

Former mayor denies guilt

Former San Carlos mayor Mike King pleaded not guilty the week of Feb. 11, 2006 to charges he helped submit false work invoices to the South County Fire Authority and was to remain free from custody on his own recognizance while awaiting jury trial at the end of March 2006.

King, 64, was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and one felony count of presenting a false claim. He did not waive his right to a speedy trial. King posted a $50,000 bail bond the prior Friday to avoid jail before his first court appearance.

Foiles ordered King to face trial March 27, 2006, exactly one month after political consultant Margaret "Peg” Collier was scheduled for sentencing on misdemeanor fraud. Collier pleaded no contest to the charge and agreed to testify in all future court proceedings connected to the South County Fire Authority false invoicing case.

Collier submitted $13,000 worth of invoices implying she performed consulting work in 2003 for Measure I, a proposed per-square-foot parcel tax to fund the Fire Department. Voters ultimately rejected the measure and seven firefighters were laid off.

From the archives highlights stories originally printed five years ago this week. It appears in the Thursday edition of the Daily Journal.