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Feuling Sues Mercedes-Benz

7 July 1999

Feuling Sues Mercedes-Benz

    SAN DIEGO, July 6 -- Feuling Advanced Technologies Inc.,
today announced they have filed suit in U.S. District Court in Southern
California against Mercedes-Benz USA Inc., and Hoehn Motors LTD. for
infringement of Feuling's patented three-valve engine technology.
    The suit specifies infringement of multiple Feuling patents and affects an
estimated 360,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold to date in the United States by
Mercedes-Benz and its dealers.  The action could result in the court ordering
the automaker to recall all Mercedes-Benz three-valve equipped vehicles and
infringing parts.
    The suit claims that Mercedes-Benz, which has no patents on three-valve
technology, uses Feuling patented technology in their new passenger car and
SUV engines.  First introduced in the l997 model year, Mercedes-Benz used the
Feuling three-valve technology to meet stringent new Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission standards.
    Feuling is well known for engineering and technology innovations with more
than 45 U.S. and foreign patents and more than 25 years of automotive
engineering experience.
    Feuling Advanced Technologies President, James J. Feuling, stated "Feuling
Advanced Technologies has spent the past eighteen months attempting to resolve
this three-valve technology issue with Mercedes-Benz.  Mercedes-Benz has
admitted it had not performed a patent search prior to production of the
three-valve engine and that the Mercedes three-valve product reads on a number
of the Feuling patent claims."
    "Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz continuing infringement and failure to
negotiate a patent agreement forces Feuling Advanced Technologies to seek
redress through the United States Judicial System.  The United States Patent
and Trademark Office has recognized the uniqueness of the Feuling three-valve
technology by granting four U.S. Patents to date, and we intend to protect
those patents."
    Feuling's three-valve patents were first filed with the U.S. Patent Office
in May 1992.  Four patents have been issued to date.  Additional U.S. and
foreign patents are pending.
    Visit the Feuling web site at http://www.feuling.com