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GRAND RAPIDS - A decision is expected this week on whether three office furniture manufacturers will appeal the dismissal of their lawsuit that accused a federal agency that produces a variety of goods using prison labor of illegally cutting into their markets.
Taking the case against Federal Prison Industries (FPI) to the U.S. Court of Appeals is the next option for Herman Miller Inc., Haworth Inc. and East Greenville, Pa.-based Knoll Inc., should the companies decide to pursue the litigation further.
"We're disappointed and we're examining our options," said Washington, D.C., attorney Stephen Ryan, who represents Herman Miller, Haworth and Knoll.
The three firms, working through a coalition that sells to the federal government, sued FPI in late 1999, claiming the agency failed to go through a publicreview process and conduct the proper market analyses required when it expanded production...