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### ATTORNEY S A T LA W



# Fa x Cove r

Shee t DATE : TO :

FRO^fl : Septembe r2 , 201 1 Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-43 0 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Richar d A . Reep , Esq . TIME : PHONE : FAX : 4-.1 1 P W

202-493-502 0

RE : FA A Cas e No . 2010NM71004 5 NUMBE R O F PAGE S INCLUDIN G COVE R SHEET : 9 MESSAGE : A N ORIGINA L AN D ON E COP Y WIL L FOLLO W B Y MAIL .

CONFIDENTIALIT YNOTIC E VJNLES S OTHERWIS E INDICATED , TH £ INrORMATlO N COf^TTAlNE D I N THI S FACSIMIL E MESSAG E I S INFORMATIO N PROTECTE D B YTH E ATTORNE Y• • CLIEN TANO/O R ATTORNE Y- WOR KPRODUC TPRIVILEGES . I TI S INTENDE D ONLYFO R TH E INDIVIDUA L NAME D ABOVE . AN D TH E PRIVILEGE S AR E NO TWAIVE D B YVIRTU E O F THI S HAVIN G SEE N SEN TB Y FACSIMILE . I F TH E READE R O F THi S FACSIMILE , O R TH E EMPLOYE ^ O R AGEN TRESPONSfBL E TO DELIVE R I T T O TH E NAME D RECIPIENT . ! S NOTTH E INTENDE D RECIPIENT , YO U AR E HEREB YNOTIFIE D THA TAN rDISSEMINATION . DISTRIBUTIO N O R COPYIN G O F TH E COMMUNICATIO N I S STRICTL YPROHIBITED . I F YO U HAV E RECEIVE D THI S COMMUNICATIO N I N ERROR . PLEAS E IMMEDIATEL YNOTIF YU S B YTELEPHON E AN D RETUR N TH E ORIGINA L MESSAG E T O U S ATTH E ABOV E ADDRES S VI ATH E U.S . POSTA L SERVICE . W E WIL L PROMPTLYREIMBURS E YO U FO R TH E TELEPHON E AN D POSTAG E EXPENSE . THAN KYOU .' 1 ^

^ . 

### :••" • 'rTnv=nA]jOM 5 Richar dA . Rt;ep , hsq . ^ - • —• - REEP , BELLaUAJRD , P.C . - - , n 295 5 StockT^r dRoa dIjii ! ^^.i- ' •'• - ' ^ '"^i ' ' ' P.O.Bo x 1696 0 3 Missoula , Montan a59808-696 0 Telephone : (406 ) 541-410 0 A Facsimile : (406 ) 541-410 1 Attomev s forArmorcoa t US A

UNITE D STATE S O FAMERIC A DEPARTMEN T O FTRANSPORTATIO N 9 OFFIC EO FHEARfNG S WASHINGTON . D.C . 1 0

1 2

1 6 1 7 1 8 1 5 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 F N THE MATTE ROF : ) FA A Cas e No . 2010KM71004 5 ) Judg e No t

Assigne d ARMORCOATUSA . ) ) ANSWE RT O COMPLAIN T •' • - ^ Respondin g t o th e Complain t file di n thi s cause , Delendant , Aimorcoa t USA , aMontan a •'•' ^ limite dliabilit y company , respond s a s follows :

1 . Respondin g t o pai'agrap hI , Annorcoa t US A admit s th e allcgauon s state dtherein . 2 . Respondin g t o paiagrap hIJ , Anuorcoa t US A <uisvvers th e followin g subsections : A . Respondin g t o subsectio n 1 , Armorcoa t US A state s iha t

it i s aMontan a limite dliabilit y compan y tha t rarel y traiisport s hazardou s materials . 1 1 estimate s tw o t o thre e shipment s pe r

year . B . Respondin g t o subsectio n 2 , Ajjnorcoa t US A admit s tha t

aUnite dParce l Sei^vic e (UrPS ) packag e wa s shippe db y Annorcoa t US A o n o r

abou t Ma y 14 , 201 0 wit hth e destinatio n bein g Singapore .

ANSWE R T O COMPLAIN T PAG E 1 .vja| j \JL . - i I •J-i . I -T)- '

1 0

-„ 1 1- ^ 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 6 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 C . Respondin g t o subsectio n 3 , Amiorcoa t US A allege s tha t

th e produc t shippe dwa s no t

pain t bu t *'reducer " whic hi s aClas s 3 "pain t relate dmaterial " a s dcfmc db y 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.101(3) . Amiorcoa t US A denie s th e remainin g allegation s excep t t o th e exten t admitte dabove .

D . Respondin g t o subsectio n 4 . Armorcoa t US A admit s tha t

th e shipmen t

wa s transporte db y UP S an dth e waybil l speak s fo r itsel f E . Respondin g t o subsectio n 5 , Annorcoa t US A admit s tha t

leakag e wa s allege dt o hav e bee n discovere dbu t affirmativel y stale s (an dassert s a s a n affirmativ e defense ) tha t th e packag e an dpackagin g material s hav e bee n destroye dand/o r hav e no t

bee n provide dt o Annorcoa t

US A fo r

imalysi s o r

Teview . Amiorcoa t

US A farthe r

state s tha t

th e shipper—UPS — ha s affirmativel y take n responsibilit y fo r mishandlin g th e packag e an dan y damag e tha t ma y hav e occurre d(an dfurthe r assert s thi s intervenin g caus e a s a n affinnativ e defense) . Se e cop y o f undate dUP S correspondenc e fro mChri s Bowma n attache dheret o a s Exhibi t A an dexper t revie w lette r

fromJef f Rooke r o f Rte c Industria l attache dheret o a s Exhibi t B . An y stainin g o r leakag e ma y hav e bee n externa l t o th e shippin g containe r an dsourc e an dno t

fro mth e containe r withi n th e package dmaterial .

F . Respondin g t o subsectio n 6 , Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s o f thi s subsectio n an dit s subsection s aii dstate s tha t th e desig n o f

th e packag e an dprotectiv e material s wa s accomplishe db y qualifie dshippin g containe r contractor s an dwa s believe dt o b e designe dt o confont i t o al l regulations .

G . Respondin g t o subsectio n 7 , Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s o f thi s subsectio n an dassert s (ha t it s primar y employe e handlin g suc hshipment s wa s traine dan dwel l verse di n HAZMA T regulation s an dprocedures .

ANSWE R T O COMPLAIN T PAGE 2 .9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1

2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 ^ H . Respondin g t o subsectio n 8 , Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s o f thi s subsection . Armorcoa t US A allege s tha t

areques t

wa s mad e fo r

copie s an dcopie s wer e retaine d eJectronicalJ y b y UPS . Becaus e o f Ih c rar e shipmen t

o f suc hmaterial s an dbecaus e recover y o f th e "copies " pose dasignifican t expens e i n tim e an dmoney , Armorcoa t US A identifie dth e manne r o f storag e an drequeste dconfirmatio n o f necessit y whic hconfinnatio n wa s neve r receive dfro mtli e investigator . T o th e kiiowledg e o f Annorcoa t

USA , copie s continu e l o b e retaine db y UP S i n electroni c formfo r th e require dthre e yea r period . 3 . Respondin g t o paragrap hIII , Amiorcoa t US A answer s th e followin g subsections : A . Respondin g t o subsection s I a , Armorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s o f imprope r descriptio n o r

conditio n an dallege s theshipinen t wa s properl y marke dan ddesigne di n accordanc e wit hregulation s an dtha t any-mishandlin g o r

leakag e wa s aresul t

o f thir dpart y mishandlin g o r

outsid e sourc e contamination . B . Respondin g t o subsectio n lb , Armorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d allege s it use dindependen t

packagin g contractor s t o desig n an dmanufacture , th e containe r an d packagin g i n orde r

t o compl y wit hlaw . C . Respondin g t o subsectio n Ic , Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d allege s tha t

a n electroni c imag e o f

an y previou s shipment s o f Armorcoa t

US A i s an dwere/ar e availabl e tliroug hUPS' s electroni c documen t storage . D . Respondin g t o subsectio n Id , Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d allege s tha t

it believe dth e shipmen t

t o b e properl y describe di n shippin g papers . E . Respondin g t o subsectio n 1 e , Armorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d allege s tha t

it s primar y handlin g employe e wa s traine dan dknowledgeabl e a s pe r regulator y requirements .

ANSWE R T O COMPLAIN T PAG E 3 .1 1

1 F . Respondin g t o subsectio n If , Annorcoa t

US A denie s th e allegation s an d• 2 allege s th e packag e wa s properl y constmcte dan dprepare dfo r shipment . G . Respondin g t o subsectio n Ig , Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d 4 | allege s tha t

i t properl y classifie dan ddescribe dth e content s o f th e shipment . 5 H . Respondin g t o subsectio n Ih . Annorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d 6 allege s tha t

i l use dthir dpart y constructe dcontainer s an dshippin g material s believe dt o b e i n ful l 7 complianc e wit hregulation s an dtha t damage , i f

any , wa s cause db y person s o r entitie s no t

a 8 part y t o thi s proceeding . 9 1 . Respondin g t o subsectio n 11 , Armorcoa t US A denie s th e allegation s an d

- ^ allege s tha t

th e packagin g an dabsorben t material s utilize da s par t o f th e packagin g wer e adequat e unde r

th e regulations . •^^ J . Respondin g t o subsectio n 2 , Armorcoa t US A state s tha t

th e Unite dState s •' • ^ Cod e an dth e Cod e o f Federa l Regulation s spea k fo r themselve s i n establishin g liabilit y fo r civi l penalt y bu t

den y tha t

an y liabilit y fo r

civi l penalt y exist s i n thi s instance . IC . Respondin g t o subsectio n 3 . Annorcoa t US A denie s tha t

unde r th e fact s an dcircumstance s o f thi s case , a$15,000.0 0 penalt y i s appropriate .

AFFIRMATIV E DEFENSE S 4 . A s a n affinnativ e defense , Annorcoa t US A allege s a s follows ; A . UP S ha s affirmativel y admitte dmishandlin g o f th e packag e at

issu e an d aji y e.xposur e fo r

civi l pena]r> ' shoul dno t accru e t o Armorcoa t

USA . B . Th e packag e i n questio n ha s bee n destroye dan dno t retaine db y th e agenc y and , therefore , .Armorcoa t US A ha s bee n una.bl e t o evaluat e cithe r th e content s o r

th e packag e o r

th e manne r

o f destructio n t o estabhs htli e propriet y o f an y clai mo f

violation . 

### 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 6 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 ANSWE R T O COMPLAIN T , PAG E 4 .1 C . Base dupo n exper t review ' o f

th e phot o o f

th e container , stainin g occurre d 2 a s aresul t

o f externa ! source s an dno t du e t o leakag e o f

th e produc t

shipped . 3 \Vl-IEREFORE , Armorcoa t USA , b y counsel , respectfull y request s tha t thi s matte r

b e ^ dismisse dan dtha t n o penalt y b e assesse dan dtha t Armorcoa t

USA' s attorneys ' fee s an dcost s b e 5 awarded . b DATE D thi s ^ da v o f September , 2011 . 

### ' ^ REEP , BEL L

1.^ ' 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 By :

- ^ fCichardA . Reep * Attorney s fo r

Annorcoa t

US A

ANSWE R T O COMPLAIN T PAG E 5 .9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 ^ 1 7 1 8 CERTIFICAT E O FSEHVTC E

I , th e undersigned , d o hereb y certif y tha t o n the^-2<_ ^ "-ia

y o f September , 2011 , atru e ao d correc t cop y o f th e foregoin g wa s serve dupo n th e followin g a s indicated ; [x ] U.S . Mai l I ] Han dDeliver y [ J Federa l Expres s [x j FacsimU e (202-493-5123 ) [ \Certifie dMnil , Retur n Receip t Requeste d [x ] U.S . Mai l [ I Han dDeliver y I 1 Federa l Expres s |x l Facsimil e (202-366-7536 ) I ] Certifie dMail , Retur n Receip t Requeste d

[x ] U.S . Mai l I J Han dDelivcrj ' [ ] Fedora ! Expres s [x ] Facsimil e (425-227-1007 ) f ] Certifie dMail , Retur n Receip t Requeste d Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-43 0 Hearin g Docke t Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenu e S W Wilbe r Wrigh t Building , Suit e 2W100 0 Washington , D.C . 2059 1 ORIGINA LAN D ON E COP Y Administrativ e La w Judg e Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Offic e o f Hearings , M-2 0 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S E Eas t Building - Groun dFloo r Washington , D.C . 2059 0 ON E COP Y Kyl e E . Lomazo w FA A Offic e o f

Regiona l Counse l 160 1 Lin dAvenu e S W Ronton , Wa,shingto n 9805 7 ON ECOP Y ^///i-^^A , ^ / / 1 9 2 C 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 ANSWE R T O COMPLAIN T PAG E 6 .Amiorcoa t US A Dea rJohn : I am^^TIlin g t o hel p clarif

yIssue s regardin g damage d package s yo u have hadwiU i UP S ove rth e las t 1 & months . I n eac h an d ever yca& e v/ e have Investigated , yo u hav e bea n found t

o b a complian t wit h th e regulations . An yFailur

e I n bo xo rbottl a wa

s foun d t o be cause d b

y"extrem e handling " of you rpaDkag e b you rp6.opl6 . Th e onl ylim e w a havo ove rha d issue s l 3 v/he n ihl & sor t o f handlin g occurs . I have per^onaJf

ybee n ( o you roffic e severa l lime s an d confirnne d accsptabf e practice s ar e bein g use d whe n shippin g produc

t wit h us . i ca n als o confin n tha t yo u origlrall ybecam e a certifie d Hazmat shippe ri n 2006 , were re-certifie d i n 200 8 b yUPS , an d the n re-cedlfle d agai n i n 201 0 bya compan y name d Infotrac . Yo u hsw e bee n a loya l cusbame rfo-UPS since Jun e 25 , 1983 . I a m happ yt o spea k

wit h anyon e v;h o has qucstion e regardin g wha t ha s transpire d ove rth a histor yof you rrelatJonshl p w't h us . Sincerely , Chri s Bowma n UP S Are a Sale s Manage r 22 1 ExpresswayL n Mfsssoula , M T 5980 3 406-&31-932 6



### Exhibi t ATO ; JOHNttYA N PROM; XKFFEOOXE

R SLmjECT i DOXFICau^

E DATE: 7/12/^aTT

"

John , I hav e revie-w'c

dth e pictui c vo

u seii t shov-in g awe t box . Unfortunately , a

s th e pictur

e show s onl y on e sid

e o f th e box , i t

is impossible t o determine i f th e -we t spo t onginate dfromlasid

e ih e bo x o r

froma n externa l source . Fro mm

y e?cpenenc

e tha t type o f damag e coming fromwithin th e bo x wil

l crjis e aseparatio n o

f the sub.^raie^ anddi e bo x -wil l fal l apan . The refiso

n fo r ihi s h becaus e th e bo x i

s mad e fro m3 layer

e o f pa.per , Hi e Insid e an doutside i s fla

x andih e cente

r i s fluted . Searc his appliedt o di e upper

mos t portio n o f eac hfKit e juiddriedt o th e fla

t sheet o n th e insid

e and outside calle

dlinei^ . When thi s liner

i s soake dthroug hi

t wil l caus e di e starc ht o brea

k down nn dth e line r wil l separat e fromthe flute . I n simple terms , th e bo x wil l fal l apart . I f iiist th e outer line r gets wet > the integrit

y o f th e bo x ^il l remain i n tact . Basedon th e picuir

e I see , m y pi"ofessiona

l opinio n is tlia

t ih e danrnge cam

e fro ma n externa l source . I t wouldo f covuse hel

p i f I coul dse c the bo x o r

actua l picture s showing th e insid e andodier angles . XOlthoi

u this , i t is no t lil«ly anyone ca

n ascertain the som"c

e o f th e damage t o rhi s box . A s you hio w 1 liav

e exrensK'e knowledge i

n \hl s fiel dhaving ?.'orl<e

di n th e corrugaic dincustr

y i n exces s of

2 5 years . I a

ma t you r disposa l t o he b wii hthi s bsu e and-wT^ul db e mor e tha n happ y t o sen da n affidavi t o r testif y a s )T3 Udecennine t o b

e fitting . I f there i s anything eh e I ca

n assist >t) u wit hpleas e fee

l fre e t o cal l Regard s Jef f Roolce r President Rte c ludiistria

l



### Exhibi t B