Quicksilver Resources (KWK) has filed a second amended petition and jury demand against the company. The new petition seeks a request for injunctive relief allowing Quicksilver to vote all its common units in future elections for directors of BreitBurn. Quicksilver originally filed suit against BreitBurn in late October alleging securities fraud, a claim that BreitBurn said was "without merit." Following a March 24 hearing, BreitBurn agreed to hold its 2009 annual meeting of limited partners on Nov. 30. Quicksilver Resources currently holds 21,347,972 common units (40.45% of the total outstanding).

Winthrop Realty Trust (FUR) is seeking an exemption from Maguire to increase its stake to up to 25%. Winthrop said it would agree to limit its ownership such that no "individual" -- as defined in Internal Revenue Service regulations -- would have beneficial ownership of more than the existing 9.8% limit. Winthrop believes that its ownership structure is such that the preferred stock is deemed to be owned proportionally by all of the shareholders of Winthrop; and even if Winthrop were to acquire 25% of the preferred stock, that ownership wouldn't cause Maguire to fail to qualify as a real-estate investment trust under tax laws. Winthrop Realty currently holds 9.45% of the Series A cumulative redeemable preferred stock.

A shareholder group nominated David van Roijen and C. Hunton Tiffany for election to the board at FBSS' 2009 annual meeting, set for May 19. Besides the nominees, the investor group includes shareholders William Sudduth, Richard Stoker, Susanne McClenaghan Tiffany and Peter van Roijen. In addition to supporting alternative director candidates, the group has agreed to oppose Fauquier's proposal to authorize 2 million shares of preferred stock. The shareholder group holds 261,119 shares (7.3%).

Bioanalytical Systems' founder, Peter Kissinger, wants the company to promptly agree to replace three current board members with three directors of his choosing. Kissinger wants Bioanalytical's independent directors to meet with him to discuss the company's current financial condition and management, including the executive-compensation arrangements currently in place. He also wants to discuss Chief Executive Officer Richard Shepperd's qualifications and knowledge regarding the company's industry, and the feasibility of Bioanalytical's going private or pursuing other strategic alternatives. Kissinger currently holds 1,275,967 shares (26%).

Activist shareholder Joseph Stilwell increased his stake to 383,428 shares (5.5%), from 360,475 shares (5.2%) reported on March 12. The investor said that he doesn't believe the value of Alliance's assets is adequately reflected in the current market price of the common stock.

A group of funds managed by Mario Gabelli's Gamco Investors (GBL) raised its stake to 6.64 million shares (16.34%), from the 6.1 million (14.92%) reported on March 26.

Doddsville Investments raised its holdings to 8.32 million shares (12.1%), up from the 7.4 million (10.8%) reported on March 23. In a March 23 disclosure, Doddsville said R.H. Donnelley must "act aggressively" to buy back its stock and bonds in the open market.

Mill Road Capital increased its holdings to about 1.27 million shares (6.8%), after buying 906,300 shares April 6 at $3 a share.