USA (11 Oct 2005) -- ITI Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI) and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court against the Professional Scuba Association, Inc. (PSA), Professional Scuba Association International, LLC (PSAI), and all of its officers worldwide. The lawsuit asserted claims for breach of contract, fraud in the inducement, misappropriation of trade secrets, civil conspiracy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unfair competition, and tortious interference with actual and prospective contractual relations. The lawsuit also alleges that for the past year, the defendants – who include Hal Watts, Joseph Odom, Michael Ange, David Crockford and Joseph Keiser – have tried to rapidly expand PSA by misappropriating the trade secrets, customer lists, marketing strategies and other intellectual property belonging to ITI Holdings. The lawsuit also alleges that officers of PSA have violated various employment and/or publishing contracts that they had with ITI. Commenting on the lawsuit, Brian Carney, President of ITI, stated: "I have the utmost respect for what many of the officers of PSA have accomplished in diving, but I have no respect for the way they conduct their business." Carney stated that according to PSA's corporate materials, the company espouses a business philosophy of adhering to a "Golden Triangle of Safety, Knowledge and Integrity." However, Carney added: "The behavior of all PSA's executive leadership indicates that operational triangle is missing at least two sides. | | The actions of PSA's officers seem to be directly focused on causing SDI, TDI and ERDI the greatest possible harm and I cannot allow such damage to go unanswered. This is the type of behavior that has no place in this industry." Carney concluded: "My hope is that this whole matter can be resolved swiftly and with the least disruption to our industry as a whole, and that our loyal membership around the globe can continue to conduct their business in the professional and supportive framework SDI, TDI and ERDI is known for." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
