TWO EXECUTIVES ACQUITTED IN DOJ INVESTIGATION IN MARINE HOSE INDUSTRY

On November 10, 2008, Val M. Northcutt, an executive at Manuli Rubber Industries SpA (“Manuli”) and Francesco Scaglia, , an Italian National employed as a product manager for marine hoses for Manuli’s factory, were each found not guilty by a twelve member jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
On September 13, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Mr. Northcutt and Mr. Scaglia with participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by rigging bids, fixing prices, and allocating market shares for sales of marine hose in the United States and abroad.

Marine hose is a flexible rubber hose used to transfer oil between tankers and storage facilities. The cartel manipulated prices for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of marine hose worldwide.

Michael S. Pasano, Paul A. Calli , and Marissel Descalzo, of the Miami office of Carlton Fields represented Mr. Northcutt. David O. Markus of Miami, Florida and David Gerger of Houston, Texas represented Mr. Scaglia.

Andre Barlow