Two Manuli execs acquitted in marine hose case
ERJ staff report (R&PN)
Palm Beach Florida -- A jury in the Palm Beach federal district court took two hours unanimously to acquit two executives of Manuli Rubber Industries SpA on charges of conspiring to fix prices, rig bids and allocate market shares in the rubber marine hose industry.
Val Northcutt, a technician and installer of marine hose for Manuli, and Francesco Scaglia, a product manager for Manuli marine hose, were exonerated Nov. 10 after a four-week trial. According to Northcutt's attorneys, the two men's former bosses, Robert Furness and Charles Gillespie, testified against Northcutt and Scaglia in exchange for reduced sentences, as did Peter Whittle, the alleged ringleader of the conspiracy.Â
Prosecutors and Furness made a deal whereby Furness pled guilty and agreed to serve a reduced prison sentence and pay a reduced fine in exchange for his testimony accusing his employee, our client, of involvement in Furness' crimes. Likewise, prosecutors struck a bargain with Gillespie who pled guilty and agreed to serve a reduced prison sentence and pay a reduced fine in exchange for his testimony that our client, to whom Gillespie issued pricing instructions, was involved in Gillespie's crimes.
Northcutt and Scaglia's attorneys argued successfully that the testimony of Furness, Gillespie and Whittle was false. “Today's swift not guilty verdict affirms our position throughout the case-that Mr. Northcutt acted properly and with integrity and honesty,†said Paul Calli, an attorney for Northcutt, in a press release.
David Markus, an attorney for Scaglia, said his client was excited about returning home to his family in Italy after 17 months facing trial.
Justice Department officials could not be reached for comment because of the Veteran's Day holiday.
From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)
Press release from Carlton Fields (Northcutt's Lawyer)
This article is only available to subscribers - subscribe today
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
- Every issue of European Rubber Journal (6 issues) including Special Reports & Maps.
- Unlimited access to ERJ articles online
- Daily email newsletter – the latest news direct to your inbox
- Access to the ERJ online archive