Bell and Vector Aerospace take each other to court

Bell and Vector Aerospace take each other to court

24-Jan-2012 Source: HeliHub.com

It sounds a bit like a couple of children playing – “you take me to court and I’ll take you to court in return”, but we’re sure that these two organisations are taking their legal stance very seriously.  The current situations are:-

In December, Vector took Bell to Alabama Middle Court (case ref 2:11-cv-01071) alleging they are blocking Vector getting MRO work in Alabama and NW Florida – specifically “for their anticompetitive actions designed to prevent Vector from providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (“MRO”) services for Bell helicopters in Alabama and northwest Florida so that Bell’s own repair facilities can obtain Vector’s current and future work. Bell’s conduct as alleged below has no legitimate business rationale and is contrary to a decades-long pattern and practice of certifying Vector as qualified to repair Bell helicopters. This abrupt and unjustified change in business practices has already jeopardized several Vector MRO contracts and could lead to a significant decline in Vector’s business as well as the near term loss of dozens of jobs and the long-term specter of a complete shut-down of Vector’s Andalusia facility – a likely loss of over one hundred jobs. Bell’s conduct has already caused substantial harm, but unless the status quo is maintained, its continued conduct would cause substantial and irreparable harm to Vector, its employees and their families, as well as Vector’s customers. There is no adequate remedy at law for this harm. Bell’s current course of conduct would also eliminate substantially all competition for the sale of MRO services for Bell helicopters in the relevant geographic area.”

Then, in the last week, Bell has filed a suit against Vector for Trademark Infringement in the Texas Northern courts – Case Number: 4:12-cv-00034.  Fuller details are not immediately available.

WIlliam P Johnson – HeliHub.com Washington correspondent

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