Item 8.01 Other Events.

On June 19, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied the plaintiffs' petition to appeal a federal district court order that denied plaintiffs' motion for class certification in the previously disclosed antitrust lawsuit, Funeral Consumer Alliance v. Service Corp. Int'l, a case that named Batesville Casket Company, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc., and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., as defendants. 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 consolidated 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. On March 26, 2009, a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Texas (Houston), denied class certification in both lawsuits. After these rulings, the casket retailers dismissed their case with prejudice, while the Funeral Consumers Alliance plaintiffs filed a petition to appeal the ruling in their case. The Fifth Circuit's June 19 order denied that petition.

At this point, the Funeral Consumers Alliance plaintiffs have the option of dismissing their consolidated case as the casket retailer plaintiffs did, or proceeding with their individual claims. If the plaintiffs choose to proceed, Batesville Casket and Hill-Rom intend to continue to defend the case vigorously and to pursue all of their legal rights against plaintiffs if they are successful.

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

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