The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last week that three import companies have agreed to pay more than $3 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the government alleging illegal import practices.
Florida-based Southeastern Aluminum Products, Inc. will pay $650,000; Texas-based Waterfall Group LLC agreed to pay $100,000; and California-based C.R. Laurence Co., Inc. paid $2.3 million in the False Claims Act lawsuit.
All three companies sell shower enclosures and doors made from aluminum and manufactured by Tai Shan Golden Gain Aluminum Products, Ltd. in China. The DOJ alleged the three companies attempted to evade customs on imports of aluminum extrusions from China.
The three companies allegedly made false declarations in order to avoid having to pay countervailing duties and antidumping fees for the aluminum it was attempting to bring into the country.
Civil Division's Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, case number 11-cv-368.