In Brief: Judge Rejects Motion Against Shareholder

A federal judge has denied Onbancorp's motion for a preliminary injunction to bar its largest shareholder from issuing statements urging the sale of the company.

U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Pooler said Onbancorp "has not shown that any materials (Seymour) Holtzman issued or could issue between now and the trial on the merits likely would cause the bank or its shareholders irreparable injury."

The dissident shareholder had distributed a satirical pig cartoon that ridiculed what he considered the bank board's disregard for shareholders. In October, he said he would ask fellow shareholders during the bank's annual meeting to find a buyer to boost the price of the company's stock. Onbancorp then sued Mr. Holtzman, alleging he violated federal laws by distributing false and misleading information about the company and its directors.

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