NEW YORK - A jury decided Friday in favor of U.S. and European shareholders who said the Paris-based Vivendi media group lied to the public about its shaky finances, setting the stage for the possible distribution of several billion dollars in damages to investors. The company was found liable, but not its executives, according to the verdict in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Vivendi said it will appeal. Plaintiffs said in a release that the potential payout to investors could total $9.3 billion, the largest securities class action jury verdict in history, measured by the number of people affected and the dollars involved, said shareholders' attorney Arthur Abbey. Thousands of investors worldwide said Vivendi covered up its troubles in 2001 and 2002 as the former public water company grew into a media and communications empire.

- Associated Press

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