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Judge's Decision Vindicates Meritor Automotive's Position In Eaton Patent Claim

6 November 1997

Judge's Decision Vindicates Meritor Automotive's Position In Eaton Patent Claim

    TROY, Mich., Nov. 6 -- Meritor Automotive, Inc.
said today that a U.S. District Court judge's ruling in a patent dispute with
Eaton Corp. supports Meritor's position that Eaton's claims are
groundless.
    In an opinion filed Nov. 4 in Delaware, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph
F. Farnan, Jr. denied a request by Eaton for a preliminary injunction against
Meritor.
    Last July, Eaton filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Meritor's
previous parent company, Rockwell International Corporation ,
claiming that the company had infringed on a truck transmission patent.  Since
then, Meritor has become a separate, independent company.
    A preliminary injunction would have required Meritor to halt sales of its
Engine Synchro Shift(TM) (ESS) transmission until the matter was resolved at
trial.
    "We believe that Judge Farnan's ruling vindicates our position," said
David Greenfield, Meritor's General Counsel.  "It clearly indicates that Eaton
faces an uphill battle if it chooses to proceed to trial."
    Meritor recently filed a motion for a summary judgment, asking the judge
to dismiss Eaton's lawsuit altogether.
    Meritor, with 1996 sales of $3.1 billion, is a global supplier of a broad
range of components and systems for commercial, specialty and light vehicles.
Meritor consists of two businesses:  Heavy Vehicle Systems, a leading supplier
of drivetrain systems and components for medium- and heavy-duty trucks,
trailers, off-highway equipment and specialty vehicles; and Light Vehicle
Systems, a major supplier of roof, door, access control and seat adjusting
systems, electric motors and electronic controls, suspension system and wheels
for passenger cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles.

SOURCE  Meritor Automotive, Inc.