Item 8.01 Other Events.

On March 26, 2009, Kenneth M. Hoyt, United States District Judge in the Southern District of Texas (Houston), ruled in support of the memoranda and recommendations of U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley, and denied class certification in two previously disclosed antitrust lawsuits against Batesville Casket Company, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc., and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. Hill-Rom is a party to these actions as the former parent of Batesville Casket Company.

As previously reported, a self-styled consumer advocacy group, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, and several consumers who had purchased Batesville caskets had filed a purported class-action lawsuit against Batesville Casket Company, Hill-Rom Holdings, and three of Batesville's funeral home customers, alleging that the defendants violated antitrust laws. A related lawsuit was filed by four current and former independent casket retailers, alleging similar violations.

The plaintiffs in both cases now have the option to petition the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for leave to immediately appeal Judge Hoyt's decision. Any petition must be filed within ten business days of the rulings (April 9, 2009). Whether or not to accept the appeal is discretionary with the Court of Appeals.

For further information and background on these cases, please refer to Hill-Rom's most recent SEC Form 10-Q.

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