UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 25, 2008

HILLENBRAND, INC.
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indiana	 	001-33794	 	26-1342272	
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	 	(Commission File Number)	 	(IRS Employer Identification No.)	
 	 	 	
One Batesville Boulevard
Batesville, Indiana	 	47006	
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	 	(Zip Code)	
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (812) 934-7500

Not Applicable	
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)	
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 8.01. Other Events
On November 24, 2008, a magistrate judge in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Texas (Houston) issued recommendations that plaintiffs’ motions for class certification be denied in two previously disclosed antitrust lawsuits against Batesville Casket Co., Inc. and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
Hillenbrand’s press release regarding this matter is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The contents of such Exhibit are incorporated herein by reference.  
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 (d) Exhibits.  

Exhibit Number	 	  Description	
 	 		
99.1	 	Press Release dated November 25, 2008, issued by Hillenbrand, Inc.	
 
1

 
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
HILLENBRAND, INC.
DATE: November 25, 2008
BY: /S/ John R. Zerkle                               
       John R. Zerkle
       Senior Vice President,
       General Counsel and
       Secretary
 
2

 
EXHIBIT INDEX

 	 	 	
Exhibit Number	 	  Description	
 	 		
99.1	 	Press Release dated November 25, 2008, issued by Hillenbrand, Inc.	
 
3

Exhibit 99.1
Magistrate Judge Recommends Denial of Class Certification
in Funeral Industry Antitrust Litigation
BATESVILLE, Ind., Nov. 25, 2008, Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI) – /PR Newswire-First Call/ On Nov. 24, 2008, a magistrate judge in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Texas (Houston) issued recommendations that plaintiffs’ motions for class certification be denied in two previously disclosed antitrust lawsuits against Batesville Casket Co., Inc. and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
As previously reported, a purported consumer advocacy group, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, and several consumers who had purchased Batesville caskets had filed a purported class-action lawsuit (“FCA Action”) against Batesville Casket Company, Inc., Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Hillenbrand Industries, Inc.), and three of Batesville’s funeral home customers, alleging that the defendants violated the antitrust laws. A related lawsuit (“Pioneer Valley Action”) was filed by a group of current and former independent casket retailers, alleging similar violations, purportedly on behalf of a class of independent casket retailers. Hearings on the plaintiffs’ respective motions for class certification in those cases were held in December 2006 before the magistrate judge and briefing on the motion took place thereafter.
On Nov. 24, 2008, the magistrate judge recommended that the motions for class certification in both cases be denied. The plaintiffs in each case have 10 court days (which may be extended) to file objections to the magistrate judge’s recommendations with the United States district judge. If the district judge accepts the magistrate judge’s recommendations and denies class certification, plaintiffs may petition the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for leave to appeal.
For further information and background on these cases, please refer to Hillenbrand’s most recent SEC Form 10-Q.
About Hillenbrand, Inc.
Hillenbrand, Inc. ( www.HillenbrandInc.com ) is the holding company for Batesville Casket Company, a leader in the North American death care industry through the sale of funeral services products, including burial caskets, cremation caskets, containers and urns, selection room display fixturing and other personalization and memorialization products. HI-INC-C
CONTACT
Investor Relations for Hillenbrand, Inc.
Mark R. Lanning, Vice President, Investor Relations, and Treasurer
Phone: 812-934-7256
E-mail: mrlanning@hillenbrand.com
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