Federal Court Denies United Steelworkers of America Request to Dismiss Titan RICO Lawsuit for Second Time

QUINCY, Ill., Aug. 5, 2003 -- The Federal Court in Springfield, Illinois, has denied a request to dismiss the racketeering (RICO) lawsuit filed against the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) by Titan International, Inc. . The lawsuit filed in September 2000, stems from the corporate campaign waged against Titan during a 40-month strike by the USWA and seeks approximately $240 million in damages, however under the treble damages stipulation of Federal Racketeering laws, the value increases to approximately $720 million.

The United Steelworkers of America, officers from both the Local 164 of Des Moines, Iowa, and Local 303L of Natchez, Mississippi, and over 100 named individuals are accused of interfering with Titan's ability to conduct business by employing such tactics as bomb threats, harassment, falsified worker's compensation claims, extortion, and interference aimed at destroying the company.

"The July 31, 2003, ruling marks the second time the USWA's petition for dismissal of the suit has been denied in Federal Court," stated Maurice Taylor Jr., Titan president and CEO. "Employees, stockholders and Titan's customers were all injured by the unlawful activities of the defendants and we must persist in our effort to reclaim what was lost."

Titan is a global supplier of mounted wheel and tire systems for off- highway equipment used in agriculture, earthmoving/construction, and consumer (i.e. all terrain vehicles and trailers) applications. Titan has manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide.