Subject: Attention: Joan Countryman Date: Fri, 07 Mar 1997 09:03:20 -0600 From: Tim Headley To: citation@teo.uscourts.gov CC: LIBTEMP1@hayboo.com, MILESK@hayboo.com Does the Judicial Conference of the United States really need an explanation of the benefits of competition? Does it truly not understand that competition produces better products at lower prices? Every lawyer in this country would benefit from having price and product competition for federal case reporters. This can happen only if we end West's monopoly over federal case reporters. The monopoly will end only if the federal courts adopt the form of official citation proposed by the ABA. Currently we pay West their monopoly rate (recent annual increases are 9-10 percent per year) or we do not purchase a federal case reporter. The availability of immediate permanent citations for Supreme Court cases would increase competition in that market also, because other publishers could produce competing case reporters. Tim Headley, patent attorney Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. 1000 Louisiana, Suite 4300 Houston, Texas 77002-5012 Phone: 713-547-2040 Fax: 713-547-2300 Email: headleyt@hayboo.com