Swissray slaps Elscint with lawsuit

Fraud and breach of contracts headline the lawsuit Swissray International has filed against Elscint in connection with two distribution agreements executed in August 1998. The suit, filed in the New York Supreme Court, alleges that Elscint violated agreements to distribute Swissray ddR technology internationally and for Swissray to distribute Elscint imaging equipment in Switzerland. The complaint alleges improprieties in Elscint's negotiation tactics, fraudulent concealment of the impending sale of its imaging businesses, and breaches of the distribution agreements following the sale. Swissray turned to the courts because discussions with Elscint failed to resolve these issues, according to Ruedi G. Laupper, Swissray chairman, president, and CEO. Laupper alleges that the distribution agreement with Elscint markedly delayed the deployment of Swissray technology internationally.