Thursday, May 15, 2008
REGION
UCFC, Home Savings have new CFO and treasurer
YOUNGSTOWN — James Reske of Hudson has been hired as chief financial officer and treasurer of United Community Financial Corp. and Home Savings and Loan Co. Patrick Kelly, who previously held those jobs, left the company to pursue other interests.
Reske is a chartered financial analyst who has 18 years of experience in the banking industry. He had been with KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he focused on providing strategic advice to community banks and thrifts throughout the Midwest regarding capital structure, acquisitions, raising capital and financial management.
Reske earned a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in international business from Ohio State University. He received a law degree from Georgetown University.
F.N.B. declares dividend of 24 cents per share
HERMITAGE, Pa. — F.N.B. Corp. declared a cash dividend on its common stock of 24 cents a share. The dividend is payable June 15 to shareholders of record as of June 1.
The company had its annual meeting of shareholders Wednesday. Eight directors were elected. Henry M. Ekker, Dawne S. Hickton, D. Stephen Martz, Peter Mortensen and Earl K. Wahl Jr. will serve three-year terms ending in 2011. Stanton R. Sheetz will serve a two-year term ending in 2010. Philip E. Gingerich and Robert V. New Jr. will each serve a one-year term ending in 2009.
NATION
Texas court overturns $7.75M Vioxx verdict
TRENTON, N.J. — A Texas appeals court on Wednesday overturned a multimillion-dollar verdict against Merck Co. in a case involving its withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.
A Texas jury in April 2006 awarded the widow of 71-year-old Leonel Garza $32 million. That later was cut to about $7.75 million under Texas damage caps.
On Wednesday, the Texas 4th Court of Appeals overturned the verdict, ruling that Garza’s family failed to provide evidence that Garza’s long-standing heart disease could not have been the cause of his fatal heart attack in 2001. Garza died of a heart attack after taking Vioxx for less than a month.
Associated Press