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The Weir Group PLC and J F Comer Inc announce settlement of legal dispute in Canada

The Weir Group PLC (“Weir”) and J F Comer Inc. (“Comer”) jointly announce the settlement of a long-running contested legal dispute between the parties in the Federal Court of Canada concerning Weir’s intellectual property rights in that country.  The settlement has immediate effect.

At one time Comer was an official distributor in Canada for certain slurry pumps and parts now owned by Weir and branded as Hazleton®, Ash Pump®, Galigher® or Warman®, but this relationship ended some years ago.  Under the present settlement Comer has agreed to ensure that any products, parts, retrofit or kit components which they may sell are not sourced from replica manufacturers who illegally make use of the intellectual property of Weir in any manner.  Comer has agreed not to import such products into Canada from specific replica manufacturers which are located in China.

Further, the settlement stipulates that the parties will follow agreed arrangements to dispose of current held inventory and consignment inventory of Comer.

Alan Mitchelson, Legal and Commercial Director of The Weir Group commented: "The Weir Group is pleased to have reached an amicable resolution of this dispute with Comer, which will be able to give clarity to the marketplace about the sourcing of replica pumps and pump parts in Canada”. 

Ben Kubica, owner of J. F. Comer added: “Our agreement also provides the marketplace with the comfort that Comer can and will continue to carry on business in relation to products which are not illegally made."