Sunday, May 03, 2009

USA: litigation between Sprint affiliates and Sprint Nextel over access to "4G" technology

[streetinsider] iPCS, Inc. (Nasdaq: IPCS), whose operating subsidiaries are PCS Affiliates of Sprint Nextel, today announced that the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois has denied Sprint's motion that sought to dismiss claims brought by iPCS's subsidiaries in an amended complaint filed in their ongoing litigation over Sprint's Wi-Max venture with Clearwire Corporation. The amended complaint, filed in January 2009, alleges that Sprint has improperly withheld 4G technology from them in connection with the Clearwire transaction, which closed in November of 2008. The amended complaint seeks, among other things, a permanent injunction enjoining Sprint from "obtaining directly or indirectly the benefits of advanced technology without providing that technology and sharing its benefits with its Affiliates." The Court also ruled that the iPCS subsidiaries' claims for relief could not include certain types of monetary relief but that, in addition to the existing claims for injunctive relief, the subsidiaries would not be prevented from making "a claim for any actual or direct damages."

"We are very pleased that the Court has again ruled in our favor as we seek to have Sprint live up to its obligations under our affiliation agreements," commented Timothy M. Yager, President and CEO of iPCS, Inc. "Technological advances are central to any wireless business and we are confident that after the evidence is presented in this case the Court will uphold the business deal that we reached with Sprint over ten years ago to 'be Sprint' in our exclusive territories and offer the most advanced seamless wireless nationwide network to our subscribers," said Mr. Yager. "The Illinois courts have consistently upheld our contractual rights and we are confident they will continue to do so."

"We also continue to look forward to Sprint's compliance with the Circuit Court's ruling that Sprint must "cease owning, operating and managing the Nextel wireless network" in iPCS Wireless' territory by January 25, 2010 and will continue to monitor and pursue its compliance with that order," concluded Mr. Yager.

Circuit Court Denies Sprint's Motion to Dismiss and Allows iPCS Claim for 4G Technology to Proceed

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