BALA CYNWYD, Pa., May 6, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The following statement was issued today by the law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP:
Notice is hereby given that a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of all purchasers of the common stock of Gerber Scientific, Inc. (NYSE:GRB) from May 27, 1999 through April 12, 2002, inclusive (the "Class Period").
If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP (Marc A. Topaz, Esq. or Stuart L. Berman, Esq.) toll free at 1-888-299-7706 or 1-610-667-7706, or via e-mail at info@sbclasslaw.com.
The complaint charges Gerber Scientific, Inc. and certain of its officers and directors with issuing false and misleading statements concerning its business and financial condition. Specifically, the complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, as alleged in the complaint, defendants issued statements regarding Gerber Scientific's quarterly and annual financial performance and filed reports confirming such performance with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The complaint alleges that these statements were materially false and misleading because, among other things: (i) the Company was employing improper inventory and reserve accounting practices in violation of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. As a result, the Company's operating results were materially misrepresented and overstated; (ii) the Company lacked adequate internal controls and was therefore unable to ascertain the true financial condition of the Company; and (iii) based on the foregoing, defendants' statements concerning the prospects of Gerber Scientific were lacking in a reasonable basis at all times.
On April 15, 2002, before the market opened, Gerber Scientific announced that it expected to take a $12 million pre-tax charge in its fiscal fourth quarter, the period ending April 30, 2002. Additionally, Gerber Scientific announced that, in response to an investigation by the SEC into its inventory and reserve accounting practices, it was conducting an internal review of its financial reporting for the period January 1, 1998 through April 30, 2002. The Company further stated that its investigation is ongoing and once it has been completed, the Company will likely restate its financial results for the appropriate periods. In response to the Company's announcements, the price of Gerber Scientific common stock declined to $6.99 per share, a decline of more than 71% from a Class Period high of $24.50 per share, reached on July 6, 1999.
Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of class members and is represented by the law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP, which has significant experience and expertise prosecuting class actions on behalf of investors and shareholders. For more information on Schiffrin & Barroway, or to sign-up to participate in this action online, please visit http://www.sbclasslaw.com/cgi/signup.cgi.
If you are a member of the class described above, you may, not later than June 17, 2002, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff of the class, if you so choose. In order to serve as lead plaintiff, however, you must meet certain legal requirements.
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca