A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.

Edison Prevails in Antitrust Case: A federal judge tentatively ruled in favor of Southern California Edison Co. in a 12-year-old antitrust lawsuit filed by five cities that purchase power from the utility and resell it to their customers. U.S. District Court Judge Mariana Pfaelzer cleared Edison of antitrust allegations in a $300-million lawsuit filed in 1978 by Anaheim, Riverside, Banning, Colton and Azusa, Edison said. The cities, which buy power wholesale from Edison and resell it at retail costs to their own municipal customers, alleged that Edison wrongfully denied them continual access to hydro-power transmission lines to the Pacific Northwest. The utility had contended that giving the cities fuller access would have resulted in higher costs for Edison’s other customers. (Case No. 78-810. Ruling Issued Oct. 11, 1990).