Opinion ID: 149112
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Claims Against BIE

Text: Prior to 2006 both Miller's and the Government's complaints named Harbert International Establishment, Inc. (HIE, Inc.) among the defendants; they did not name Bilhar International Establishment (BIE). In amended complaints filed in 2006, Miller and the Government replaced references to Harbert International Establishment, Inc. with references to Bilhar International Establishment f/k/a Harbert International Establishment. The statute of limitations bars all claims against BIE unless the amended complaints relate back to a timely complaint. The district court held the amended complaints relate back because BIE should have known it was the intended defendant. Miller v. Holzmann, 2007 WL 778599, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15598 (D.D.C. Mar.6, 2007). We agree with the district court.
A company called Harbert International Establishment was formed in Liechtenstein in 1975. At all relevant times Bill Harbert owned at least part of that company and at various times BHIC and HII owned the remainder. In September 1993 Harbert International Establishment changed its name to Bilhar International Establishment. The next month a new company was formed in Liechtenstein, also called Harbert International Establishment. It acquired many of the assets of BIE (formerly HIE), including both the name Harbert International Establishment and that company's interest in Contract 20A. After transferring its assets to the new HIE, the old HIE (by then BIE) ceased operating. In 1999 Bill Harbert's son formed Harbert International Establishment, Inc. in Alabama.