"...Prassi Software USA today announced that the San Jose Federal Court presiding over litigation between Prassi and Adaptec has provided additional time for Prassi to develop and prove its antitrust claims against Adaptec and against Tom Shea and David Ulmer as individuals. Prassi also announced that it has settled a dispute with Adaptec over a recent contempt finding, agreeing to pay Adaptec $130,000 without an admission of any wrongdoing.

When reached at its San Jose headquarters, Prassi's President, Umberto Bassignani, remarked, "The contempt issue involved disputed conduct alleged to have occurred over a year ago involving a couple of products that we no longer market. I'm delighted to have this issue behind us, so we can now focus on what is really at stake in the litigation: Adaptec's anticompetitive business practice. We are gratified that the Court has consolidated Prassi's antitrust case against Adaptec with Adaptec's case against Prassi. We are looking forward to our day in Court. We expect, after all the facts come out, to succeed."

The San Jose litigation was commenced by Adaptec in April of 1998. "The Court recently postponed the trial, for what may be up to a year. "This postponement will now give Prassi the opportunity to prove that Adaptec has violated the antitrust laws, and that its stance against Prassi is all a part of Adaptec's predatory and anticompetitive conduct," said Mr. Bassignani..." NULL