Brown Jordan International and Maui-Based Retailer the Mind's Eye Interiors Reach Settlement on Patent Infringement Lawsuit.

Business Editors

POMPANO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 2002

Brown Jordan International, Inc. ("BJI"), the premier designer, manufacturer and marketer of fine luxury and contract furnishings, today announced that it has settled its lawsuit against Maui-based retailer The Mind's Eye Interiors, Inc.

In its lawsuit, filed last month in the Federal District Court in Honolulu, BJI alleged that The Mind's Eye Interior's sale of a particular line of wicker outdoor furniture under the name "Savannah" infringed BJI's design patent and trade dress in its popular "Havana" collection of hand-woven wicker furniture. The suit also alleged that The Mind's Eye Interiors, which previously sold the Havana line, was selling "knock-offs" of Havana that were virtually identical in design but inferior in quality.

Through the settlement, The Mind's Eye Interiors has agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting further sales of "Savannah" furniture and will pay to BJI an undisclosed amount of money. As part of this settlement, the Mind's Eye agreed to surrender for destruction its entire inventory of the "Savannah" line. The parties also have expressed their desire to resume their prior business relationship.

Bruce R. Albertson, President and CEO of Brown Jordan International, Inc. stated: "We appreciate The Mind's Eye Interiors' cooperation in resolving this matter. We look forward to resuming our relationship with them as one of our Maui-based furniture retailers. However, we will continue to take these types of matters very seriously and will pursue legal action where appropriate to protect our company's intellectual property."

Brown Jordan International, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets casual and contract furniture under the brand names Brown Jordan, Pompeii, Winston, Vineyard, Atlantis, Stuart Clark, Casual Living, Southern Wood, Loewenstein, Lodging by Charter, Charter, Woodsmiths, Texacraft, Tropic Craft and Wabash Valley. Brown Jordan International's corporate office is located in Pompano Beach, Florida with offices and manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States.

Brown Jordan International, Inc. is an affiliate of Trivest Partners, L.P., a private investment firm, which is a leading provider of equity for middle market corporate acquisitions, recapitalizations and growth capital financings. Since its founding in 1981, Trivest has sponsored more than 115 acquisitions and recapitalizations, totaling approximately $2.0 billion in value. Trivest recently closed its third institutional investment fund, Trivest Fund III, L.P., with $316.1 million in total commitments. For more information, please visit http://www.trivest.com.