Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[You Better Believe It: Christian license plate reportedly banned by U.S. District Court]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/you-better-believe-it-christian-license-plate-reportedly-banned/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/you-better-believe-it-christian-license-plate-reportedly-banned/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/you-better-believe-it-christian-license-plate-reportedly-banned/#commentsFiled under: ,


The proposed South Carolina plate would have looked something like Florida's (pictured above)

Last year, the South Carolina state legislature approved a bill to establish a Christian-themed license plate depicting a cross in front of a stained-glass window and bearing the words "I Believe". The vote spurred public advocacy groups into action, decrying the move as a violation of the separation of church and state.

According to the Associated Press, a similar bill in Florida failed to pass into law, and now a U.S. district court has struck down the license plate in South Carolina as a First Amendment violation. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie took specific aim at the state's Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, the driving force behind the initiative, calling the move "an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin."

In addition to banning the plate, Judge Currie also ordered the state to reimburse the legal expenses of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, two groups which fought against the initiative and were, if you'll pardon the pun, decidedly cross.

[Sources: The Associated Press; The New York Times]

You Better Believe It: Christian license plate reportedly banned by U.S. District Court originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christianchristian license platechristianityChristianLicensePlatechurch and stateChurchAndStatecourtdistrict courtDistrictCourti believei believe license plateIBelieveIBelieveLicensePlatejudge cameron currieJudgeCameronCurrielegislaturelicense platelicense platesLicensePlateLicensePlatessouth carolinaSouthCarolinau.s. district courtU.s.DistrictCourtWed, 11 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Max Mosley, Sebastien Bourdais settle individual lawsuits]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/10/max-mosley-sebastien-bourdais-settle-individual-lawsuits/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/10/max-mosley-sebastien-bourdais-settle-individual-lawsuits/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/10/max-mosley-sebastien-bourdais-settle-individual-lawsuits/#commentsFiled under: ,



Those who bemoan modern Formula One settling its rivalries in the courtroom instead of on the race track have another set of examples to bring up at the pub as news emerges of the settlement of two lawsuits related to the top-tier racing series have emerged over the course of the weekend.

In one case, Scuderia Toro Rosso and its dejected driver Sebastien Bourdais reportedly settled a dispute of the premature termination of the contract between the two parties. When the team fired Bourdais in favor of Jamie Alguersuari, Bourdais proclaimed that he was looking into legal recourse against the team. Reports now indicate that the two parties settled out of court, with STR reportedly paying Bourdais salary plus damages in the amount of $2.1 million. Speculation is rising that the French driver will return to racing in the U.S., where he racked up an unprecedented four consecutive Champ Car titles before his ill-fated move to Formula One.

Meanwhile, departing FIA president Max Mosley has reportedly settled his case against German newspaper Bild over the publication of his sordid sex scandal for which he sued the publisher for $2.35 million. According to reports, Mosley and Bild settled for $290,000 which will be distributed to two charities, as well as the publication of an interview to clear the record. The settlement follows the $100,000 in damages and $760,000 in legal fees awarded last year to Mosley from the News of the World, the British tabloid which originally broke the story.

[Sources: F1-Live and GrandPrix.com | Image: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty]

Max Mosley, Sebastien Bourdais settle individual lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bourdaiscash settlementCashSettlementcourtcourt settlementcourtsCourtSettlementf1fiafia max mosleyFiaMaxMosleyformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnelawsuitmax mosleyMaxMosleymosleyscuderia toro rossoScuderiaToroRossosebastien bourdaisSebastienBourdaistoro rossoToroRossoMon, 10 Aug 2009 07:57:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Chrysler unlikely to pay back most recent $4.5 billion gov't loan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/chrysler-unlikely-to-pay-back-most-recent-4-5-billion-govt-loa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/chrysler-unlikely-to-pay-back-most-recent-4-5-billion-govt-loa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/chrysler-unlikely-to-pay-back-most-recent-4-5-billion-govt-loa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Repayment of the $4.5 billion life-line in U.S. and Canadian loans that a federal bankruptcy court allowed yesterday is "highly unlikely," according to Ron Manzo, a top company adviser. To Chrysler's bankruptcy legal team, that is not the issue. Urging the court "to let this company live," automaker attorney Corinne Ball said "the survival of Chrysler's business is at stake in these proceedings, as is the fate of hundreds of suppliers and thousands of Chrysler dealers around the country."

In other related developments:
  • Chrysler's salaried employees will be ordered to take a two-week unpaid furlough saving the company $21 million. Hourly workers are already on furlough.
  • Incentive plans to dealers will be cut by 25 percent in May, and 50 percent in June.
  • Chrysler is losing 30-40 dealerships per month. They now have fewer than 3,200.
  • In papers filed last week, Chrysler expects the U.S. Treasury to forgive the $4 billion loan made in January.
  • The company's biggest obstacle to making a speedy exit from bankruptcy court are the dissident creditors, holding $6.9 billion in first-lien debt.
[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Chrysler unlikely to pay back most recent $4.5 billion gov't loan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 May 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcybillionsChryslerCorinne BallCorinneBallcourtdebtTue, 05 May 2009 18:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes tries to burst Shuanghuan's tiny Bubble, gives up]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/mercedes-tries-to-burst-shuanghuans-tiny-bubble-gives-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/mercedes-tries-to-burst-shuanghuans-tiny-bubble-gives-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/mercedes-tries-to-burst-shuanghuans-tiny-bubble-gives-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Mercedes decided to sue Shuanghuan Automotive for copyright infringement for its Bubble microcar (called the Noble in China), claiming it was a copy of the smart fortwo. BMW then decided to bring its own case against Shuanghuan, citing the Shuanghuan CEO as a blatant facsimile of the BMW X5 (that's the CEO on the wall in the above picture). Mercedes got the Bubble banned from display at a couple of auto shows, BMW won its copyright infringement lawsuit in Munich, and Mercedes sued the Bubble's importer, Martin Motors of Italy, to block sales of the car.

It was all looking good... until BMW lost its case in courts in Munich and in China. The Italian court ruled that "consumers could not get confused" when similar vehicles are offered "with a significant price difference." With BMW cold knocked out in the Copyright Cage Match, Mercedes has been left alone in the octagon with Shuanghuan bearing down on it. It also hasn't helped that Italian commentators have already said they don't think the two cars will be confused.

Now Mercedes is looking for an exit. Martin Motors countersued Mercedes for €100,000,000 - around $134.2 million USD - citing potential lost Bubble sales (that's a lotta Bubbles), and Mercedes doesn't want to lose its case and have to fork over colossal damages. Both sides expect the case to be resolved in a couple of weeks, and Bubbles are expected to go on sale this summer.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Mercedes tries to burst Shuanghuan's tiny Bubble, gives up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwchinacopyrightcourtfortwoitalylegalshuanghuanshuanghuan bubbleshuanghuan nobleShuanghuanBubbleShuanghuanNoblesmartsmart fortwoSmartFortwoTue, 06 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Court strikes down Michigan "fuzzy dice" ban... then reinstates it...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/court-strikes-down-michigan-fuzzy-dice-ban-then-reinstates/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/court-strikes-down-michigan-fuzzy-dice-ban-then-reinstates/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/court-strikes-down-michigan-fuzzy-dice-ban-then-reinstates/#commentsFiled under: ,

A man named Lonnie Ray Davis was pulled over by Michigan police. When they searched his car, they found an open alcohol container, crack, a wad of cash, a stun gun, and a .38 caliber handgun. He was, of course, arrested. But the reason they pulled him over has become a constitutional law issue: Davis had a Tweety Bird ornament dangling from his rear view mirror, and Michigan law forbids dangling things that "obstruct the vision of the driver of the vehicle."

Davis' argument was that the Tweety Bird didn't obstruct his vision, so the cops had no right to pull him over, and therefore the items they found should be suppressed. The 6th Court of Appeals initially struck down the Michigan law since it does not define "to what degree the driver's vision must be obstructed or for how long." Noting that a great many cars have objects dangling from their mirrors, and so may be in unwitting violation of the law, "the statute itself provides no guidance either to motorists or police as to which ones" violate the law, and so must be scrapped.

The court didn't suppress the evidence, and shortly after its ruling it rescinded its decision striking down the ban. The reason is thought to be that the court was required to let Michigan plead its case for the ban before the court struck it down. The court has not given a reason for its reversed decision. As far as the now-reinstated fuzzy dice ban, for now it remains a reason for the police to pull you over if and when they decide.

[Source: Michigan Messenger]

Court strikes down Michigan "fuzzy dice" ban... then reinstates it... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>constitutioncourtetcfuzzy diceFuzzyDicegovernmentlawslegalmichiganpoliceSun, 04 Jan 2009 17:08:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW loses Clonewars Italian court battle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/bmw-loses-clonewars-italian-court-battle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/bmw-loses-clonewars-italian-court-battle/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/bmw-loses-clonewars-italian-court-battle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Take a close look at the image. A court in Italy has just ruled that the crossover pictured above, the five-seat CEO built by Shuanghuan Automobile of Shijiazhuang, China, is not a clone of the BMW X5. Um... yeah. The legal battles began when Shuanghuan introduced their "Noble" last year, a near-clone of the Smart fortwo. Mercedes-Benz wasn't impressed, and threatened a lawsuit. Shortly thereafter, BMW started losing sleep over the Chinese CEO, an obvious facsimile of their previous-generation X5 (E53). The Bavarian automaker took Shuanghuan to court in Munich this past summer and won their case, and when Martin Motors (the distributor of Shuanghuan Automobiles in Italy and central Europe) started selling the CEO in early 2007, BMW again took legal action, this time in the Italian judicial system.

Last week, the Germans met their defeat when the Italian courts rejected their claims. To date, Martin Motors has sold about 200 copies of the CEO and expects to sell about 1200 this year in their European markets. "We are convinced the CEO wasn't a clone of the X5. We are happy to see our view supported by a court ruling," said an obviously pleased spokesperson from Martin Motors. We have to wonder how quickly the Italians would change their tune if Shuanghuan began to knock-off the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

BMW loses Clonewars Italian court battle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMWclonecopycatCopyrightcourtduplicatefortwoinfringementItalianlawsuitlegal battleLegalBattlepiracyShuanghuanShuanghuan AutomobileShuanghuanAutomobileSMARTX5Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo found guilty of manslaughter, fined]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/volvo-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-fined/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/volvo-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-fined/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/volvo-found-guilty-of-manslaughter-fined/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Two children tragically lost their lives when French driver Catherine Kohtz lost control of her Volvo 850. The 1999 incident, which Kohtz blamed on a loss of braking ability in her Volvo, has led to French courts handing down a finding of manslaughter. The guilty verdict against Volvo also carries an €200,000 fine, though Volvo holds that there wasn't anything wrong with the car's braking system and will likely appeal. Driver Kohtz was fined €300 and also sentenced to a six-month jail term, which was suspended.

Kohtz's accident was initially attributed to reckless operation, and tensions in the town of Wasselonne have been stirred by the circumstances of crash. Rumblings of Kohtz, relatively wealthy, having bought her way out of a more serious outcome for the death of two ten year olds from lesser means have been dividing the town in eastern France. An investigation determined that the brakes in the Volvo 850 suffered from a problem known to Volvo. Rather than recall 180,000 850s, Volvo is alleged to have quietly asked its dealers to fix a rubber pipe prone to rupture or detachment, causing a loss of braking ability. An investigating magistrate contended that service documents instructing dealers how to repair the problem were overly vague, leading to an improper and ineffective repair on Kohtz's car. For a company with such an emphasis on safety, its surprising that it would try to cover up a major flaw in such a crucial system. Volvo argued that the service documents that were seized outline an innocuous fault, and that something else like a loose water bottle behind the pedal was to blame.

[Source: BBC via Winding Road; The Independent]

Volvo found guilty of manslaughter, fined originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>850accidentbrakingcourtfatalfinefrancefrenchlawsuitmanslaughterrulingvolvoFri, 01 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Daimler blocks debut of Chinese smart clone]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/01/daimler-blocks-debut-of-chinese-smart-clone/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/01/daimler-blocks-debut-of-chinese-smart-clone/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/01/daimler-blocks-debut-of-chinese-smart-clone/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Daimler's not taking the close resemblance of a Chinese minicar to a smart fortwo lightly. The German automaker has gotten a court order forbidding Martin Motors, the European distributor for China's Shuanghuan Automobile, from displaying the Shuanghuan Noble at the upcoming Bologna Auto Show. This is the second time Daimler has blocked the Noble from being displayed, having taken similar action at the Frankfurt show.

Martin Motors is calling the Noble the Bubble in Europe, since there's already another Noble. Martin contends that the Bubble is not a copy of the fortwo, citing the four seats and front engine configuration among the differentiating details. Martin Motors has also demanded in Italian courts that Daimler prove its exclusive rights to the design of the smart. If a resolution can be reached, the Bubble will go on sale for about $10,000 euros across Europe. The resemblance is striking, but copying the look isn't the same as cribbing the underlying engineering. We haven't had the opportunity to crawl over, under, or through the Bubble, so we can't comment on whether it's better or worse than the smart, but from the looks of things in the video we've posted after the jump, the Bubble is hardly a premium vehicle. Shuanghuan also sells the CEO, a midsize SUV that borrows an awful lot from the BMW X5's looks. The appearance similarities between Shuanghuan's vehicles and those of well respected competitors may not help the Chinese automaker avoid having its European sales bubble burst.

Check the jump to see a video of the Noble/Bubble in action.

More shots from Autoblog China.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Continue reading Daimler blocks debut of Chinese smart clone

Daimler blocks debut of Chinese smart clone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto showAutoShowbolognabubblechinacopycourtfortwofrankfurtinjunctionlegalmartinmartin motorsMartinMotorsminicarnobleordershuanghuansmartunveilingSat, 01 Dec 2007 15:34:00 EST<![CDATA[FIA rejects McLaren appeal, confirms Raikkonen's title]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/fia-rejects-mclaren-appeal-confirms-raikkonens-title/#commentsFiled under:

Kimi Raikkonen and the boys at Ferrari can breathe a sigh of relief, as their championship has been formally confirmed by the FIA. The title was appealed by the incredibly sore losers at McLaren, who insisted that because of a temperature irregularity in the fuel in BMW's and Williams' cars at the season closer in Brazil, those four cars should have been disqualified, thereby catapulting McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to the championship. (Yeah, they were serious.)

Hamilton, it should be noted, stated that he didn't want to win the championship that way. And nobody else wanted him too, either. Even F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone threatened to quit the sport if the FIA took the title away from Raikkonen and awarded it to Hamilton over the technicality.

The ruling was issued by a specially-convened panel of the FIA's International Court of Appeal, presided over by a Czech motorsport judge and three others from the United States, Greece and Portugal. The court, which heard testimonies from BMW, Williams and McLaren, convened in London instead of the FIA's headquarters in Paris due to traffic issues in the French capital.

Our take: Rules are rules, but if the FIA had stripped Raikkonen of his title, it would have been bad for him, bad for Hamilton, bad for F1 and bad for motorsports. We'll be waiting for Ron Dennis to find a way to blame us for this, too.

Full statement from the FIA after the jump.

Continue reading FIA rejects McLaren appeal, confirms Raikkonen's title

FIA rejects McLaren appeal, confirms Raikkonen's title originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealcourtdecisionf1fiaformulafuelinternationalmclarenoneraikkonenrulingsaubertemperaturewilliamsTue, 20 Nov 2007 19:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Court removes wind from automakers' sales in Vermont emissions fight]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/13/us-court-removes-wind-from-automakers-sales-in-vermont-emissions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/13/us-court-removes-wind-from-automakers-sales-in-vermont-emissions/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/13/us-court-removes-wind-from-automakers-sales-in-vermont-emissions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

General Motors and the former DaimlerChrysler have been handed a disappointment in a Boston district court. At issue was Vermont's adoption of California's carbon dioxide standard, which requires cars and light trucks to reduce their emissions of the greenhouse gas by 30 percent. GM and DCX brought suit against the state of Vermont, claiming that Federal law was being usurped by states demanding their own emissions standards. Furthermore, the automakers say they couldn't meet the standard, and will have to pull out of Vermont as a result.

Judge William Sessions didn't buy the argument of GM and DaimlerChrysler, and instead upheld the Vermont law. While the standards are tighter than the Federal regulations, Sessions was not convinced that they pre-empt the nationwide requirements. It does appear like a thorny States Rights question, and if more states than the current dozen or so adopt California emissions guidelines, it will continue to cause consternation. It does make the federal regs look useless when states are passing requirements that are more rigorous. It also creates extra cost for automakers, as they've either got to make all of their cars compliant, or sell "Federal" and "California" versions of the same car. The decision will be appealed by the automakers, and we expect this issue to have legs - this is not the last we'll hear of this debate.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req.]

Court removes wind from automakers' sales in Vermont emissions fight originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtdaimlerchryslerdieselemissionsgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsvermontThu, 13 Sep 2007 01:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Supreme Court calls shotgun! Backs up passengers' rights]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/19/supreme-court-calls-shotgun-backs-up-passengers-rights/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/19/supreme-court-calls-shotgun-backs-up-passengers-rights/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/19/supreme-court-calls-shotgun-backs-up-passengers-rights/#commentsFiled under: ,

Let's say you're riding in a car with someone who doesn't exactly heed the letter of the law. Or, hypothetically of course, imagine that you, the passenger, are the law-bender. Now, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling, if the police stop your driver buddy for dodgy reasons, passengers are allowed the same rights to contest the validity of the stop as the driver (and the seizure of any evidence that might have been, ahem, found during the stop).

The case was brought by a man in California who was a passenger in a car that police stopped on suspicion of an expired registration. After the police booked him for parole and drug violations, he challenged the right for the police to make the stop in the first place. It turns out the police didn't have any right to stop the car because they already knew from a previous encounter that day that the car's registration was valid. The Supreme Court agreed that passengers in a car are just as "seized" during a police stop as the driver, and so should have as much right as the driver to call police actions into question. So, ignoring the fact that the man who instigated this actually was violating parole and carrying drugs -- his bad example has made life better for passengers everywhere. Kudos to the guys in the long black robes.

[Source: New York Times via Auto Concourse]

Supreme Court calls shotgun! Backs up passengers' rights originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtpassengersrightssupremeTue, 19 Jun 2007 15:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Paris sentenced to the pen for violating probation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/05/paris-sentenced-to-the-pen-for-violating-probation/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/05/paris-sentenced-to-the-pen-for-violating-probation/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/05/paris-sentenced-to-the-pen-for-violating-probation/#commentsFiled under:

We generally try to avoid any coverage of celebrity foul ups, leaving it to the gossip sites to do their worst. This, however, is a story we couldn't pass up.

After one drunken driving arrest, two traffic violations and failing to enroll in a mandatory alcohol education program, Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in a woman's prison in Lynwood, CA.

After arriving fashionably late to her court date, Paris the heiress was accompanied by her mother, Kathy, who laughed out loud when the prosecutor was making his closing statement (apple, tree, you know the rest). Afterwards, Paris made a statement laden with apologies, yet seeming to lack any real substance.

As flawed as our system can be, it's nice to know that justice can been served, even to the wealthy elite that generally live above the law. Her sentence begins on June 5th and we're looking forward to 45 Paris-free days during her time in custody.

[Source: Yahoo! News]

Paris sentenced to the pen for violating probation originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 May 2007 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtjaillynwoodparis hiltonParisHiltonSat, 05 May 2007 13:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota engineers convicted of stealing secrets from Ferrari]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/25/toyota-engineers-convicted-of-stealing-secrets-from-ferrari/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/25/toyota-engineers-convicted-of-stealing-secrets-from-ferrari/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/25/toyota-engineers-convicted-of-stealing-secrets-from-ferrari/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In most countries, acts like murder, treason, or plotting to overthrow the government rank among the most heinous crimes a person can commit. In Italy, stealing secrets from Ferrari ranks right up near the top of the list, too.

Following a long, drawn out process, two former Scuderia Ferrari engineers, who stood accused of stealing secrets from Maranello and giving them to rivals at Toyota F1, have been convicted. Pending appeal, Angelo Santini was sentenced to nine months and Mauro Iacconi to 16 behind bars on charges of industrial espionage.

Back at the start of the 2003 season, Toyota built a wind-tunnel down the road from Ferrari in Sant'Agata Bolognese, near the Lamborghini factory. Naturally the project recruited the talents of many former Ferrari engineers, but when the season kicked off, Toyota's car looked suspiciously like Ferrari's. Complaints were filed in Italy and in Germany, and the case against Santini and Iacconi went to court a year ago. Toyota's former team principal, chief designer and chief aerodynamicist were all charged in Germany, where the case against them is pending prosecution.

It seems that Toyota will stop at nothing to catch up to Ferrari, and when hiring a Schumacher didn't work, less legal means were employed.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Toyota engineers convicted of stealing secrets from Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>convictedcourtespionagef1ferrariformula oneFormulaOnegermanindustrialitalianlegalscuderiasecretsstealtoyotaWed, 25 Apr 2007 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Eriksson strikes again! Enzo-crasher charged with hit-and-run in a Porsche]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/27/eriksson-strikes-again-enzo-crasher-charged-with-hit-and-run-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/27/eriksson-strikes-again-enzo-crasher-charged-with-hit-and-run-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/27/eriksson-strikes-again-enzo-crasher-charged-with-hit-and-run-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The case file on Stefan Eriksson just keeps growing longer and longer. The failed video-game executive crashed (and completely destroyed) a Ferrari Enzo on February 21. Totaling an Enzo is enough to put him in our bad books, but Eriksson just keeps on digging deeper into trouble.

First he was charged with a drunk driving misdemeanor after crashing the Enzo, to which he pleaded no contest. Then he was arrested on April 7 and is currently on trial for embezzlement and grand theft charges. Not enough? Apparently Eriksson was also the perpetrator of a hit-and-run.

According to the allegations, Eriksson was driving someone else's Porsche Cayenne SUV on January 4 when he drove right into the back of a Ford Explorer sitting at a red light. Well done! To make matters worse, he allegedly refused to give his information to the driver of the Explorer and just drove off instead. And why did he do that? Well apparently Eriksson was driving without a valid license or insurance. No word on whether he was driving drunk this time.

Why are we left with this feeling that Eriksson will also be charged with having sunk the Titanic, or maybe with having slashed the tires on Richard Hammond's dragster?

Related posts:

[Source: CBS News]

Eriksson strikes again! Enzo-crasher charged with hit-and-run in a Porsche originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cayennecourtcrashenzoerikssonferrarihitlegalporscherunstefansteggantrialFri, 27 Oct 2006 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Tower Automotive reaches deal with unions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/23/tower-automotive-reaches-deal-with-unions/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/23/tower-automotive-reaches-deal-with-unions/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/23/tower-automotive-reaches-deal-with-unions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just a few months ago, based on its threat to cancel union labor contracts, Tower Automotive appeared on the brink of a work stoppage - an event that would have halted a significant amount of North American vehicle production. Now we can all breath a bit easier, as the bankrupt supplier has reached a tentative deal with the United Auto Workers and United Steelworkers.

Details of the agreements have not yet been released, but presumably it's somewhat sweeter than the original proposal floated to the workers, which would have cut wages by $2-3, frozen the pension plan, and significantly raised health care costs. Tower's previous contracts were not nearly as "fat" as those from other manufacturers currently in the news, with wages reportedly in the $13-17 range.

[Source: Reuters]

Tower Automotive reaches deal with unions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptbankruptcycontractscourtsuppliertowerUAWunionSun, 23 Jul 2006 18:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Meanwhile... Delphi blessing white collar workers with bonuses]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/meanwhile-delphi-blessing-white-collar-workers-with-bonuses/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/meanwhile-delphi-blessing-white-collar-workers-with-bonuses/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/meanwhile-delphi-blessing-white-collar-workers-with-bonuses/#commentsFiled under: ,

Some days we see Delphi's point of view in this whole war of wages, and then there are days like today when we learn that Delphi is planning to pay up to $60 million in performance bonuses to 14,000 white collar workers. Obviously the 33,000 blue collar workers whose wages are on the chopping block aren't too pleased. True, Delphi's white collared workers haven't received bonuses for over three years and true, those same workers are paid less than their counterparts at similar companies, but still... timing is everything.

[Source: Detroit News]

Meanwhile... Delphi blessing white collar workers with bonuses originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 May 2006 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcycourtDelphiUAWUnionUnionsFri, 12 May 2006 08:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Delphi and UAW begin showdown in court]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/delphi-and-uaw-begin-showdown-in-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/delphi-and-uaw-begin-showdown-in-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/11/delphi-and-uaw-begin-showdown-in-court/#commentsFiled under:

Though the proceedings in which Delphi is arguing for the right to terminate the contracts of over 33,000 workers is scheduled over a three-day period this week (Tuesday, Wednesday and tomorrow), it is much more likely the case will drag on for weeks because of the 34-person long witness list. The Detroit News reports that on the first day only the trial only made it through two witnesses and wasn't even done with the second as the day came to an end.

When the hearing is over, Judge Robert Drain will have 30 days to make a verdict. If he does grant Delphi the right to terminate its contracts, the bankrupt supplier has said it will not necessarily exercise that right, though it does give the company a clear and perhaps indomitable advantage in contract negotiations with the unions.

We'll keep an eye on the proceedings as they move painfully slow towards a conclusion.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Photo Credit: Adam Rountree / Bloomberg News

Delphi and UAW begin showdown in court originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 May 2006 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contractcourtDelphihearingJudge Robert DrainJudgeRobertDrainpicketstrikeUAWunionsThu, 11 May 2006 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Stealing a car to get to your auto theft court date probably not the best plan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/01/psa-stealing-a-car-to-get-to-your-auto-theft-court-date-probabl/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/01/psa-stealing-a-car-to-get-to-your-auto-theft-court-date-probabl/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/01/psa-stealing-a-car-to-get-to-your-auto-theft-court-date-probabl/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Thomas Minks is either hopelessly compulsive, or a candidate for a World's Stupidest Criminal Award. Last Thursday, Mink was at a crack house when he remembered he needed to appear in court on theft and auto theft charges from stealing a vehicle back in January.

Apparently having no other forms of transportation, Minks elected to swipe a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 V owned by Lucas Evelio Hernandez. Police tracked the stolen vehicle via its GPS system. Minks tried to evade the officers, nearly running two of them down before being subdued with a stun gun.Needless to say, he faces a few more charges.

[Source: Miami Herald]

PSA: Stealing a car to get to your auto theft court date probably not the best plan originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Apr 2006 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car thiefcourtGPSpolicestolen vehicleStolenVehicleSat, 01 Apr 2006 12:35:00 EST