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3. [[underlined]] Disposition of Old Woman Mountains Meteorite [[/underlined]]

The Old Woman Mountains meteorite was found in 1976 by private individuals on federal land in Southern California under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. It was transferred by the Interior Department to the Smithsonian Institution for accessioning into the National Collections. Subsequent litigation, in which the finders, the Museum of the County of San Bernardino, and the State of California have asserted ownership, has reached the procedural stage of oral argument on the merits, scheduled for January 9, 1980, before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

4. [[underlined]] Foster [[/underlined]] v. [[underlined]] Ripley et al. [[/underlined]]

Plaintiff, a former employee of the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, Inc., filed this suit in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia on August 6, 1976, alleging that his removal from office was in derogation of his right to due process under the Fifth Amendment and his right to free speech under the First Amendment, and seeking reinstatement, back pay, and damages. Cross motions on summary judgment were argued on January 11, 1979. On August 23, 1979, the court entered a summary judgment in favor of the defendants. A notice of appeal of this decision has been filed by the plaintiff.

5. [[underlined]] Scherer [[/underlined]] v. [[underlined]] Ripley [[/underlined]]

Plaintiff, a civil service employee of the Smithsonian, filed an internal EEO complaint in 1974, alleging sex discrimination. Several months after the complaint had been settled in plaintiff's favor, she complained further that she had been subjected to reprisals and harassment by her supervisor after the settlement. Investigation of these allegations resulted in findings supporting the charges in part, and administrative action was taken against the supervisor. This suit, filed in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia in October 1977, alleges that the administrative action taken by the Smithsonian failed to provide plaintiff with adequate relief, and she asks for remedial action in the form of a retroactive promotion and back pay, compensatory damagers, and other administrative measures. The case was tried on November 7-8, 1979. A decision by the court is pending.

6. [[underlined]] Lacey Act Violations at the National Zoological Park [[/underlined]]

Notices of Violation have been issued to two National Zoological Park civil service employees in connection with purchases of animals protected by endangered species laws (the Lacey Act, 18 U.S.C. 43). The Notices were issued by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, and propose the assessment of civil penalties of $2,600 against each of the two employees for alleged lack of due care in purchasing the animals. Since