Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
      Cioffi: Will remote working be the new normal?
      Bridgestone Iowa plant navigates pandemic, demand
    • Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
      SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      Online retailer CARiD.com looks to triple size of tire/wheel installer network
    • Video: Michelin looks to diversify for additional growth opportunities
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
      Vipal Rubber retread guarantee program hits milestone
    • Love's adds 6 Speedco servicing sites to its Travel Stop network
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
      Jinyu Tire starts truck tire production at Vietnam plant
      Vipal Rubber retread guarantee program hits milestone
    • New York chipping in $3M+ toward Sumitomo factory expansion
      SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      U.S. agro-science firm gets $1M grant to research sunflower latex
    • Video: Michelin looks to diversify for additional growth opportunities
      Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
    • Maxxis offers discount to ChampCar competitors
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
      Bias-ply tires return to NASCAR Cup Series for Bristol dirt race
      Hankook named race tire supplier for touring car series in Europe, Japan
    • Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
      Cooper adds Rugged Trek all-terrain to Discoverer LT/SUV tire line
      Hankook unveils Vantra specialty trailer tires
    • Bauer Built promotes pair to VP positions
      TECH Americas adds Haggerty to marketing team
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Discount Tire adopts mobile tread-depth scanning system
    • Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Marked for winter: Origin of Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake
      Post-repair message adds personal touch
      Cioffi: Will remote working be the new normal?
    • SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      SEMA touts expanded Las Vegas Convention Center ahead of 2021 expo
      TIA seeking nominations for Tire Industry Hall of Fame
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      Giti disputes report blasting tire maker for accepting PPP funds
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
      Maxxis offers discount to ChampCar competitors
      Jinyu Tire starts truck tire production at Vietnam plant
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
    • Video: Demounting
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
      Staying safe when demounting and mounting tires
      Demounting Equipment
    • Video: Safety
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
      Protecting your people with proper hygiene
      Making friends with OSHA
    • Video: Tire Repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
    • Video: TPMS Service
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
    • Video: Training
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
      Shop Floor: Scholarships
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
      Recommendations for using a jack
      Jack stands for commercial tire service
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
August 02, 2010 02:00 AM

Alpha Mining exec glad for suit's omega

Miles Moore
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The best thing about his $26 million victory in federal court, according to Jordan Fishman, is that he can now devote full time to what he says he does best: designing unique, asymmetrical underground mining tires for clients worldwide.

    “When you're dealing with a company that has a billion dollars, such as Shandong LingLong, it's difficult,” said Mr. Fishman, CEO of Florida-based Tire Engineering and Distribution L.L.C., which also does business as Alpha Mining Systems and Alpha Tire Systems. “How do you split your time? But now we can run a business instead of a lawsuit.”

    A jury before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of District of Virginia ruled for Mr. Fishman and Alpha on all counts July 15 in their lawsuit against Chinese tire makers Shandong LingLong Rubber Co. Ltd. and Dubai-based tire distributor Al Dobowi Tyres Co. L.L.C. The jury found Shandong LingLong and Al Dobowi liable for conspiring to steal Mr. Fishman's proprietary mining tire designs.

    Both companies received Mr. Fishman's blueprints from former Alpha executive Sam Vance in 2005, according to the complaint. Shandong LingLong planned to manufacture the tires from the purloined designs, and Al Dobowi planned to distribute them, the lawsuit said.

    Representing Mr. Fishman was Gilbert L.L.P., a Washington, D.C., law firm with a long history of making foreign companies accountable in U.S. courts for patent and trademark infringement.

    “If it wasn't for the Gilbert firm and what they did, this trial would never have come about in the first place,” said a spokesman for the firm. “For them it was a cause.”

    Alpha's victory over Shandong LingLong and Al Dobowi was “a case of David beating Goliath,” the spokesman said.

    In a telephone conversation with Tire Business, Mr. Fishman said the behavior of Mr. Vance, Shandong LingLong and Al Dobowi was a total shock to him.

    “I grew up in a different era,” he said. “I started in the scrap rubber business, and you did business with people in an atmosphere based on trust. That's how I learned what to do and how to do it.

    “I trusted Sam Vance,” Mr. Fishman said. “I'd known him 20 years, and he was like family. Then one day I woke up and found he'd taken everything I'd worked on since I was a kid.”

    A Sarasota County, Fla., circuit court ordered Mr. Vance to pay Mr. Fishman more than $59 million in damages in May 2008. In April of this year, however, a state appeals court vacated that judgment.

    The Florida and Virginia cases have no bearing on each other, Mr. Fishman said. As for the Florida case, it was struck down strictly on procedural grounds and will be refiled soon, he said.

    Of all the things that shocked him about the case, Mr. Fishman said, the most shocking was the attitude of Shandong LingLong and Al Dobowi.

    “It was like, 'What is he going to do to us in Dubai?'” Mr. Fishman said. “And also, 'He's an old man, so he'll die soon!' Well, I guess I didn't die.

    “This case is not only about tires, but about doing business today and the difficulty firms have in doing business overseas,” Mr. Fishman said. “We were able to get them into the U.S. justice system, and perhaps this time the good guys won.”

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award