Judge denies class action over trailer fumes A federal judge in New Orleans refused to grant class-action status Monday to lawsuits claiming that thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane victims were exposed to potentially toxic fumes while living in government-issued trailers. U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt ruled that a batch of lawsuits on behalf of hundreds of plaintiffs against the federal government and several trailer manufacturers can't be handled as a class action because each person's claim is unique and must be examined individually. Government tests found elevated levels of formaldehyde in many of the trailers that housed victims of Katrina and Rita after those powerful hurricanes clobbered the Gulf Coast in 2005. Lawyers for the storm victims accuse trailer makers of using shoddy materials and building methods in a rush to meet the government's demand for emergency housing for the displaced.

Kerkorian sells last 107 million Ford shares Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, 91, has sold his remaining stake in Ford Motor Co., according to his investment company, Tracinda Corp. By unloading his last 107 million shares -- a 4.89 percent stake -- he ended his investment with the Dearborn, Mich., automaker. He had expressed confidence in its turnaround efforts earlier this year. Kerkorian owned a 6.49 percent stake in Ford in June after paying $1 billion at an average share price of $7.10. He began reducing his ownership in October, selling shares at an average price of $2.43 each, according to regulatory filings. That marked a loss of about two-thirds of his investment, or roughly $650 million. Ford spokesman Mark Truby declined to comment on Kerkorian's withdrawal and said the company "remains completely focused on executing our transformation plan."

Landmark co-owner buys into Carmike Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and co-owner of the Landmark Theaters cinema chain, has acquired a 9.4 percent stake in Carmike Cinemas Inc., according to a regulatory filing on Monday. In the Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Cuban reported buying 1.2 million Carmike shares on the open market for roughly $2.8 million of his own funds. According to the filing, Cuban has been acquiring the shares through his personal investment account since mid-October. Cuban, who has been controversial within the National Basketball Association -- receiving more than $1 million in fines for his behavior on the court -- recently has become the target of civil lawsuit alleging insider trading. In November, federal regulators accused Cuban of using confidential information to bail out of an investment in search-engine company Mamma.com Inc. in 2004, avoiding about $750,000 in losses. Cuban has denied any wrongdoing. Cuban is not facing jail time, but could be forced to pay a penalty of close to $3 million if he is found guilty.