FOR RELEASE
Contact: Dennis Watson
04/30/2002 (Tuesday)
(202) 565-1596
No. 02-13
FIRS 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov


Surface Transportation Board Dismisses "Trailer Bridge" Complaint Against "Sea Star" Based on Parties' Settlement


Surface Transportation Board (Board) Chairman Linda J. Morgan announced today that the Board has granted a motion filed by Trailer Bridge, Inc. (Trailer Bridge), a maritime transportation provider, asking the Board to dismiss, with prejudice, Trailer Bridge's 1999 complaint against Sea Star Lines, LLC (Sea Star), also a maritime transportation provider. The complaint alleged that Sea Star provided transportation service between the United States mainland and Puerto Rico at noncompensatory rates in an effort to disrupt the trade, and that this activity was causing economic injury to Trailer Bridge. Sea Star denied the allegations.



The proceeding moved forward before the Board, but on April 5, 2002, Trailer Bridge filed a motion indicating that the parties have agreed to settle all claims and issues between them raised in this case, and it therefore asked the Board to dismiss its complaint. The resolution of this matter is consistent with the Board's policy of encouraging private-sector dispute resolution whenever possible. The Board remains committed to considering matters brought before it in a manner conducive to cooperative and creative private-sector dispute resolution, to the benefit of all involved parties.



The Board issued today's decision granting the dismissal and discontinuing the case entitled Trailer Bridge, Inc. v. Sea Star Lines, LLC, STB Docket No. WCC-104. A printed copy of the decision is available for a fee by contacting D~ 2 D~ Legal Copy Service, Suite 405, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 293-7776, or via da2dalegal@earthlink.net. The decision also is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's website at http://www.stb.dot.gov.



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