The ruling does not preclude the players from attending school, said two highly placed university sources, who spoke on the condition that they be given anonymity.

"I believe, however, that the F.T.C.'s ruling in this case does not preclude further consolidation in the retail drugstore business."

The recent ruling essentially precludes any agent from making that argument.

But this ruling did not preclude that the island is a possession of the United States, for example as an unincorporated territory.

The ruling does not preclude another team from making a deal to compensate the Jets if it wants to hire Belichick.

His ruling does not preclude the prosecution from using the statements in its case against Mr. Nichols.

The ruling does not preclude a formal extradition request.

Corbett added that the rulings in no way precluded the government from continuing with its case.

This ruling does not preclude LaMacchia from being prosecuted under a civil suit as it specifically applies to criminal prosecution under the Copyright Act.

Though the court's ruling did not preclude closing Bar-Ilan, what infuriated the haredim was that the Supreme Court felt competent to consider the issue at all.