Time Warner-Tbs Deal Lands In Court

The top officials of the warring partners US West Inc. and Time Warner Inc. took the stand Monday in a state court case that could block Time Warner’s purchase of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

Richard McCormick, chairman of US West, testified that US West “would have never entered into a relationship with Time Warner” if it knew Time Warner was going to buy all of Turner.

Time Warner chairman and chief executive Gerald Levin said he didn’t believe US West’s consent was needed for Time Warner to buy Turner.

US West has asked Chancellor William T. Allen to block its partner’s deal for the Atlanta-based cable network and program production company.

The regional telephone company from Englewood, Colo., said their cable TV and programming venture pact prohibits Time Warner from buying competing businesses on its own.

Time Warner, which owns 18 percent of Turner separately, said its deal with US West allowed it to buy the rest of Turner on its own.