Plaintiffs’ Counsel Eric Quetglas: Lawsuit on Behalf Of Puerto Rican Shippers Seeks Class Action Status For All Similarly Situated Shippers

Tuesday May 6, 2008: San Juan, Puerto Rico: Eric Quetglas of the Quetglas Law Firm in Condado, Puerto Rico, Archie Lamb of the Lamb Firm in Birmingham, Alabama and Joe Whatley of Whatley Drake and Kallas of New York, New York announced today the filing of a class action lawsuit against major Jones Act shipping companies and their subsidiaries. The litigation focuses on the anti-competitive pricing practices of the companies that control shipping to and from the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The named Plaintiffs are Transporte Diaz, a business operating and principally located in San Juan, Puerto Rico that ships tires using ocean freight services, and J.A. Diaz & Co., a business operating and principally located in San Juan, Puerto Rico that ships tires using ocean freight services.. Named Defendants include Horizon Lines, Inc., Horizon Lines of Puerto Rico, Horizon Lines, LLC, Sea Star Line, LLC, Crowley Maritime Corporation, Crowley Liner Services, Inc. and Trailer Bridge, Inc. “The alleged actions of these companies have resulted in increased prices of shipments made by our clients and increased cost of all goods for consumers throughout the island” noted local counsel Eric Quetglas. “Unfortunately, it appears in this case that the reports were not honest and many individual investors have been harmed” he concluded. The lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico and seeks to represent all similarly situated class members. A jury trial in Puerto Rico is requested by the complaint. The shipping companies and its management have thirty days to respond to the allegations contained in the complaint. Additional background information and copies of the Complaints are available from the Contacts noted above.