Microsoft Moves on Class Actions

Microsoft(MSFT Quote) announced Tuesday it has settled class-action lawsuits in five states and the District of Columbia for $200 million, removing yet another obstacle to the cash-rich software maker increasing its dividend.

Of the six settlements, Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith said two suits -- in the District of Columbia and Kansas -- have been granted preliminary approval. The Kansas suit will cost Microsoft $32 million, while the D.C. case will cost $6.2 million -- figures that are based on the population size of PC users in each area.

The four other settlements -- in North Carolina, Tennessee, North Dakota and South Dakota -- are still awaiting preliminary court approval and therefore more details were not yet disclosed. But Smith said all of the settlements have been structured to provide benefits to needy school students as well as purchases of Microsoft software. ...