Court Orders OOIDA to Pay $559,718 to Prime, Inc. for Attorney Fees

January 25, 2004

The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri Southern Division court last week awarded PRIME INC. $559,718 for attorney’s fees. This money refunds PRIME INC. a part of the total cost they incurred while defending itself against the OODIA suit.

This most recent ruling is the continuation of events stemming from a lawsuit filed against PRIME INC. in 1997, alleging Federal Leasing violations and asserting class action status. The U.S. Court of Appeals held that class action status was indeed not proper and that the lower District Court had been accurate in its decisions dismissing the lawsuit. PRIME INC. then filed an Application for Attorney’s Fees as provided for under the United States Code.

“…the Court granted summary judgment against the remaining plaintiff, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (“OOIDA”), holding that the leases at issue conformed to the Truth-in-Leasing regulations as a matter of law,” stated United States District Court Judge Dean Wipple. Responding to OOIDA’s argument that the Court’s order was without jurisdiction because it held that OOIDA lacked standing, Judge Dean Wipple reiterates, “thus, the Court’s holding was based on the merits of the case, not OOIDA’s standing.”

PRIME INC.’s president, Robert Low, was quoted after the favorable court ruling on this case in August 2003, “we take great pride in being fair with Operators and value them as partners in our business. We will continue to do what it takes to fight these types of lawsuits against our company.” Protracted litigations, such as this, take countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend.

For additional information, call Clayton Brown at PRIME INC., 417.866.0001, extension 3102 or visit Prime’s web site at www.primeinc.com. Professional drivers are encouraged to stop by Prime’s terminal at the intersection of Interstate 44 and Highway 65 in Springfield, Missouri or call (877) PRIME JOB for more information.

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