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Date: 25 Feb 2005 10:10:19
From: Zach
Subject: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817555 Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors FEBRUARY 25, 2005 -- EUGENE, OR (BRAIN)--A federal judge ordered two of BikeE's former investors to pay Giant more than a quarter-million dollars for bikes the Taiwanese manufacturer delivered to the now-defunct recumbent bike company, which had not paid for them. Federal magistrate judge Thomas Coffin ruled that John Acres, a major investor in BikeE and its one-time president, and his partner Richard Carone will have to pay Giant $254,610. Coffin also awarded Giant attorney fees and ordered that "other appropriate assets of BikeE are to be made available to Giant for purposes of satisfying its judgment against BikeE for breach of contract." Coffin focused his ruling on BikeE's July 18, 2002 sale of 627 CT model bicycles to Bigha Manufacturing, a company Acres had founded in April of that year, for $254,610. Giant had manufactured the bikes for BikeE, had not been paid for them, and had a secured interest in them, all of which the defendants knew, the judge ruled. BikeE then used the sale proceeds to pay debts it owed Acres and Carone, bypassing Giant. The sale itself was not illegal, since Bigha paid BikeE, the judge found. But "BikeE's sale of the CT bicycles to Bigha with the specific purpose of transferring the proceeds to Acres and Carone, however, was wholly inequitable and inappropriate," Coffin wrote. Coffin had ruled in July that BikeE owed Giant more than $370,000, plus interest and attorney fees. BikeE ceased operating in 2002, however, and was unable to pay the judgment, so Giant pursued Acres, Carone and Bigha for payment. Whether BikeE has any remaining assets that will close the nearly $125,000 gap between the judge's award this week and the total owed remains to be seen.
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Date: 01 Mar 2005 18:41:46
From: Freewheeling
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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Yikes! I was going to make some gag about a giant having ridden Tom's high altitude training bike with unfortunate consequences: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=photos/2005/news/feb05/germany-cycling-tandem-61 but these are serious shenanigans. I guess it wasn't exactly the "people's recumbent company" after all, huh? Good for Giant. "Zach" <zakaplan@yahoo.co.uk > wrote in message news:1109355019.546280.87560@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com... > http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817555 > > Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors > > FEBRUARY 25, 2005 -- EUGENE, OR (BRAIN)--A federal judge ordered two of > BikeE's former investors to pay Giant more than a quarter-million > dollars for bikes the Taiwanese manufacturer delivered to the > now-defunct recumbent bike company, which had not paid for them. > > Federal magistrate judge Thomas Coffin ruled that John Acres, a major > investor in BikeE and its one-time president, and his partner Richard > Carone will have to pay Giant $254,610. Coffin also awarded Giant > attorney fees and ordered that "other appropriate assets of BikeE are > to be made available to Giant for purposes of satisfying its judgment > against BikeE for breach of contract." > > Coffin focused his ruling on BikeE's July 18, 2002 sale of 627 CT model > bicycles to Bigha Manufacturing, a company Acres had founded in April > of that year, for $254,610. Giant had manufactured the bikes for BikeE, > had not been paid for them, and had a secured interest in them, all of > which the defendants knew, the judge ruled. > > BikeE then used the sale proceeds to pay debts it owed Acres and > Carone, bypassing Giant. > > The sale itself was not illegal, since Bigha paid BikeE, the judge > found. But "BikeE's sale of the CT bicycles to Bigha with the specific > purpose of transferring the proceeds to Acres and Carone, however, was > wholly inequitable and inappropriate," Coffin wrote. > > Coffin had ruled in July that BikeE owed Giant more than $370,000, plus > interest and attorney fees. BikeE ceased operating in 2002, however, > and was unable to pay the judgment, so Giant pursued Acres, Carone and > Bigha for payment. Whether BikeE has any remaining assets that will > close the nearly $125,000 gap between the judge's award this week and > the total owed remains to be seen. >
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Date: 01 Mar 2005 17:59:16
From: Mark Leuck
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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Nobody really wins those lawsuits, the judgment usually doesn't cover the lawyer expenses much less the money involved in the product sale they were trying to recover. "Freewheeling" <email_at_bottomofpost@bigfoot.com > wrote in message news:KH2Vd.52952$EL5.40791@trnddc05... > Yikes! I was going to make some gag about a giant having ridden Tom's high > altitude training bike with unfortunate consequences: > > http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=photos/2005/news/feb05/germany-cycling-tandem-61 > > but these are serious shenanigans. I guess it wasn't exactly the "people's > recumbent company" after all, huh? > > Good for Giant. > > > "Zach" <zakaplan@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message > news:1109355019.546280.87560@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com... > > http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817555 > > > > Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors > > > > FEBRUARY 25, 2005 -- EUGENE, OR (BRAIN)--A federal judge ordered two of > > BikeE's former investors to pay Giant more than a quarter-million > > dollars for bikes the Taiwanese manufacturer delivered to the > > now-defunct recumbent bike company, which had not paid for them. > > > > Federal magistrate judge Thomas Coffin ruled that John Acres, a major > > investor in BikeE and its one-time president, and his partner Richard > > Carone will have to pay Giant $254,610. Coffin also awarded Giant > > attorney fees and ordered that "other appropriate assets of BikeE are > > to be made available to Giant for purposes of satisfying its judgment > > against BikeE for breach of contract." > > > > Coffin focused his ruling on BikeE's July 18, 2002 sale of 627 CT model > > bicycles to Bigha Manufacturing, a company Acres had founded in April > > of that year, for $254,610. Giant had manufactured the bikes for BikeE, > > had not been paid for them, and had a secured interest in them, all of > > which the defendants knew, the judge ruled. > > > > BikeE then used the sale proceeds to pay debts it owed Acres and > > Carone, bypassing Giant. > > > > The sale itself was not illegal, since Bigha paid BikeE, the judge > > found. But "BikeE's sale of the CT bicycles to Bigha with the specific > > purpose of transferring the proceeds to Acres and Carone, however, was > > wholly inequitable and inappropriate," Coffin wrote. > > > > Coffin had ruled in July that BikeE owed Giant more than $370,000, plus > > interest and attorney fees. BikeE ceased operating in 2002, however, > > and was unable to pay the judgment, so Giant pursued Acres, Carone and > > Bigha for payment. Whether BikeE has any remaining assets that will > > close the nearly $125,000 gap between the judge's award this week and > > the total owed remains to be seen. > > > >
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 13:32:34
From:
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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According to a poster named "intheknow" on BROL: "Actually, the information regarding the judgement in that article is false. Carone and Acres are not required to pay Giant's attorney's fees. While Giant did get a judgement for $250,000, they were originally suing for $371,000 plus 41% interest + attorney's fees. Their lowest settlement offer was over $400,000. Giant ended up paying over $400,000 in attorney's fees in this matter, so even if they collect the $250,000 judgement it's been a losing cause for them. BikeE is proceeding with its claim that it was "murdered" by BikeE. Surely, this case will require even more expenses on the part of Giant and I have heard that Carone and Acres believe strongly in this case and are not interested in using it as a bargaining chip against the current judgement." Trials such as these are filled with complicated claims, and counterclaims. It appears as though the judge just split it down the middle. Oftentimes opposing sides in litigation will try to make the other bleed. It sounds like Acres is inflicting wounds upon Giant, although they've hurt him to the tune of a quarter million as well. I guess it ain't over yet.
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Date: 01 Mar 2005 18:48:01
From: Freewheeling
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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<hashimelamin@yahoo.com > wrote in message news:1109539954.010984.98390@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com... > According to a poster named "intheknow" on BROL: > > "Actually, the information regarding the judgement in that article is > false. Carone and Acres are not required to pay Giant's attorney's > fees. While Giant did get a judgement for $250,000, they were > originally suing for $371,000 plus 41% interest + attorney's fees. > Their lowest settlement offer was over $400,000. > > Giant ended up paying over $400,000 in attorney's fees in this matter, > so even if they collect the $250,000 judgement it's been a losing cause > for them. Thanks for the correction. Strictly speaking, though, if Carone et al's fees where anything like Giant's they're further behind. It's the lawyers who are making out. > > BikeE is proceeding with its claim that it was "murdered" by BikeE. I'm afraid I don't understand. Is this some sort of typo? > Surely, this case will require even more expenses on the part of Giant > and I have heard that Carone and Acres believe strongly in this case > and are not interested in using it as a bargaining chip against the > current judgement." > > Trials such as these are filled with complicated claims, and > counterclaims. It appears as though the judge just split it down the > middle. Oftentimes opposing sides in litigation will try to make the > other bleed. It sounds like Acres is inflicting wounds upon Giant, > although they've hurt him to the tune of a quarter million as well. I > guess it ain't over yet. >
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Date: 26 Feb 2005 13:27:32
From: LioNiNoiL_a t_Y a h 0 0_d 0 t_c 0 m
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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> BikeE's July 18, 2002 sale of 627 CT model bicycles to Bigha > Manufacturing, a company Acres had founded in April of that > year, for $254,610. $254,610/627 = $406 each, not much less than the usual $500 to $600 retail price. I wonder whether Bigha intended to make any profit from this purchase, or if it was for the purpose of money-laundering. -- "Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes, it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)
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Date: 03 Mar 2005 21:04:54
From: Simon Kellett
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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hashimelamin@yahoo.com writes: > Giant ended up paying over $400,000 in attorney's fees in this matter, > so even if they collect the $250,000 judgement it's been a losing > cause for them. I guess they are sending a message to other companies: we will chase you so do not screw with us ! -- Simon Kellett, Darmstadt, Germany
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Date: 26 Feb 2005 15:01:18
From: Joshua Goldberg
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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WOW "Zach" <zakaplan@yahoo.co.uk > wrote in message news:1109355019.546280.87560@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com... > http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817555 > > Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors > > FEBRUARY 25, 2005 -- EUGENE, OR (BRAIN)--A federal judge ordered two of > BikeE's former investors to pay Giant more than a quarter-million > dollars for bikes the Taiwanese manufacturer delivered to the > now-defunct recumbent bike company, which had not paid for them. > > Federal magistrate judge Thomas Coffin ruled that John Acres, a major > investor in BikeE and its one-time president, and his partner Richard > Carone will have to pay Giant $254,610. Coffin also awarded Giant > attorney fees and ordered that "other appropriate assets of BikeE are > to be made available to Giant for purposes of satisfying its judgment > against BikeE for breach of contract." > > Coffin focused his ruling on BikeE's July 18, 2002 sale of 627 CT model > bicycles to Bigha Manufacturing, a company Acres had founded in April > of that year, for $254,610. Giant had manufactured the bikes for BikeE, > had not been paid for them, and had a secured interest in them, all of > which the defendants knew, the judge ruled. > > BikeE then used the sale proceeds to pay debts it owed Acres and > Carone, bypassing Giant. > > The sale itself was not illegal, since Bigha paid BikeE, the judge > found. But "BikeE's sale of the CT bicycles to Bigha with the specific > purpose of transferring the proceeds to Acres and Carone, however, was > wholly inequitable and inappropriate," Coffin wrote. > > Coffin had ruled in July that BikeE owed Giant more than $370,000, plus > interest and attorney fees. BikeE ceased operating in 2002, however, > and was unable to pay the judgment, so Giant pursued Acres, Carone and > Bigha for payment. Whether BikeE has any remaining assets that will > close the nearly $125,000 gap between the judge's award this week and > the total owed remains to be seen. >
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Date: 25 Feb 2005 19:00:25
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors
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Zach wrote: > http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817555 > > Giant Wins Judgment Against Former BikeE Investors > > FEBRUARY 25, 2005 -- EUGENE, OR (BRAIN)--A federal judge ordered two of > BikeE's former investors to pay Giant more than a quarter-million > dollars for bikes the Taiwanese manufacturer delivered to the > now-defunct recumbent bike company, which had not paid for them. > > Federal magistrate judge Thomas Coffin ruled that John Acres, a major > investor in BikeE and its one-time president, and his partner Richard > Carone will have to pay Giant $254,610. Coffin also awarded Giant > attorney fees and ordered that "other appropriate assets of BikeE are > to be made available to Giant for purposes of satisfying its judgment > against BikeE for breach of contract." > > Coffin focused his ruling on BikeE's July 18, 2002 sale of 627 CT model > bicycles to Bigha Manufacturing, a company Acres had founded in April > of that year, for $254,610. Giant had manufactured the bikes for BikeE, > had not been paid for them, and had a secured interest in them, all of > which the defendants knew, the judge ruled. > > BikeE then used the sale proceeds to pay debts it owed Acres and > Carone, bypassing Giant. > > The sale itself was not illegal, since Bigha paid BikeE, the judge > found. But "BikeE's sale of the CT bicycles to Bigha with the specific > purpose of transferring the proceeds to Acres and Carone, however, was > wholly inequitable and inappropriate," Coffin wrote. > > Coffin had ruled in July that BikeE owed Giant more than $370,000, plus > interest and attorney fees. BikeE ceased operating in 2002, however, > and was unable to pay the judgment, so Giant pursued Acres, Carone and > Bigha for payment. Whether BikeE has any remaining assets that will > close the nearly $125,000 gap between the judge's award this week and > the total owed remains to be seen. Now we know why the price of a BigHa went up so much. Is that the sound of a champagne bottle being opened at the Lorenzo L. Love residence? -- Tom Sherman – Earth
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