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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) January 7,1997
USFREIGHTWAYS CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-19791 36-3790696
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(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
9700 Higgins Road, Suite 570
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(847) 696-0200
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On April 19, 1996, Steven Mark Whitworth ("Plaintiff") a former employee
of USF Bestway Inc., a subsidiary of USF Freightways Corporation (the
"Company" brought suit against the Company and one of its employees, alleging
claims of fraud and promissory estoppel arising from Plaintiff's previous
employment as a driver with the Company. (Steven Mark Whitworth v. TNT Bestway
Transportation, Inc. f/k/a TNT Bestway Inc. and William Orr, Case No.
96-3935-A, 14th Judicial District Court, Dallas County, Texas). On or about
October 2, 1996, Plaintiff amended his petition and added claims of wrongful
discharge and conspiracy to wrongfully discharge.
On October 7, 1996, Plaintiff moved for summary judgment, claiming that he
was entitled to a judgment of $3,500,000 in actual damages and $1,750,000 in
attorney fees based on (i) the Company's alleged untimely responses to
Plaintiff's requests for admissions and (ii) the Company's alleged failure to
comply with the requirements of Texas law concerning the signature of pleadings
by counsel in connection with the responses to Plaintiff's requests for
admissions. Following a hearing on November 1, 1996, the trial court granted
Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and entered judgment in favor of
Plaintiff and against the Company, for $3,500,000 in actual damages and
$1,750,000 in attorneys fees, together with court costs and interest.
On November 27, 1996, the Company moved for reconsideration of the
judgment and for new trial. At the January 7, 1997 hearing on this motion, the
trial court denied the motion for reconsideration and for new trial, but ruled
that the responses to the Plaintiff's requests for admissions were timely. The
Company has posted a supersedeas bond to prevent enforcement of the judgment
pending appeal and perfected its appeal to the Dallas Court of Appeals.
Management of the Company believes that it has good grounds for obtaining
a reversal of the judgment on appeal because it believes, among other reasons,
that the judgment entered on the basis of the procedural technicality of
counsel's failure to comply with the requirements of Texas law concerning the
signature of pleadings by counsel, will not be sustained by a reviewing court
and further believes, the judgment will be vacated and the matter remanded for
a trial on the merits and that, in any event, will not have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition. In the event the judgment is
sustained on appeal, management of the Company intends to pursue potential
causes of action against all appropriate parties.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
USFREIGHTWAYS CORPORATION
Dated: January 10, 1997 By: /s/ Christopher L. Ellis
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Christopher L. Ellis,
Senior Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
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