This document is available in two formats: this web page (for browsing content) and PDF (comparable to original document formatting). To view the PDF you will need Acrobat Reader, which may be downloaded from the Adobe site. For an official signed copy, please contact the Antitrust Documents Group.


UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  

                  v.

ADA Fabricators, Inc., dba AMS
Tactile Systems,

               Defendant.


|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|         

Criminal No.: 00-97-01JD

Filed: August 9, 2000

Violation: 15 U.S.C. §1



INFORMATION


The United States of America, acting through its attorneys, charges:

1. ADA Fabricators, Inc. dba AMS Tactile Systems, is hereby made a defendant on the charge stated below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFENSE

2. Beginning at least as early as Spring 1998 and continuing until at least Fall 1998, the exact dates being unknown to the United States, the defendant and co-conspirators engaged in a combination and conspiracy in unreasonable restraint of interstate trade and commerce in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §1).

3. The aforesaid combination and conspiracy consisted of a continuing agreement, understanding, and concert of action among the defendant and co-conspirators, the substantial terms of which were to rig bids for the sale of tactile tile to the Long Island Railroad located in New York.

4. For the purpose of forming and effectuating the aforesaid combination and conspiracy, the defendant and co-conspirators did those things which they combined and conspired to do, including, among other things:

(a) participating in conversations to discuss the bid prices to be submitted to the Long Island Railroad for the supply of tactile tile, including telephone conversations occurring in the District of New Hampshire;

(b) agreeing, during such conversations, to submit artificially high, complementary bids for the sale of tactile tile to the Long Island Railroad; and

(c) submitting artificially high, complementary bids for the sale of tactile tile to the Long Island Railroad.

DEFENDANT AND CO-CONSPIRATORS

5. Defendant, ADA Fabricators, Inc. dba AMS Tactile Systems, is incorporated and is located in Massachusetts. During the period covered by this Information, ADA Fabricators was engaged in the sale or sale and installation of tactile tile throughout the United States.

6. Whenever in this Information reference is made to any act, deed, or transaction of any corporation, such allegation shall be deemed to mean that the corporation engaged in such act, deed, or transaction by or through its officers, directors, agents, employees, or representatives while they were actively engaged in the management, direction, control, or transaction of its business or affairs.

7. Various persons and companies, not made defendants herein, participated as co-conspirators in the offense charged herein and performed acts and made statements in furtherance thereof.

TRADE AND COMMERCE

8. Tactile tile is designed to warn visually impaired persons that they are approaching a dangerous area. It is typically sold to public transportation authorities or to contractors hired to perform construction for public transportation authorities and is typically installed along the edge of train platforms.

9. During the period covered by this Information, substantial quantities of tactile tile were sold or installed by ADA Fabricators and co-conspirators throughout the United States.

10. During the period covered by this Information, the activities of the defendant and co-conspirators with respect to the sale or sale and installation of tactile tile were within the flow of, and substantially affected, interstate commerce.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

11. The aforesaid combination and conspiracy was carried out, in part, within the District of New Hampshire within the five years preceding the filing of this Information. IN VIOLATION OF TITLE 15, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 1.


_______________/s/________________
JOEL I. KLEIN
Assistant Attorney General

_______________/s/________________
JAMES M. GRIFFIN
Deputy Assistant Attorney General

_______________/s/________________
SCOTT D. HAMMOND
Director of Criminal Enforcement

Attorneys, Antitrust Division
United States Department of Justice




_______________/s/________________
PAUL M. GAGNON
United States Attorney
District of New Hampshire

_______________/s/________________
RALPH T. GIORDANO
Chief, New York Office

_______________/s/________________
CHARLES V. REILLY


_______________/s/________________
ELIZABETH PREWITT


Attorneys, Antitrust Division
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3630
United States Department of Justice
New York, New York 10278
(212) 264-0665