UPDATE 1-Amsted wins round in trade secret fight
(Adds request for remedy, details)
WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Chicago-based Amsted Industries has won an initial determination at the International Trade Commission, where it had accused two U.S. and two Chinese companies of misappropriating trade secrets relating to manufacturing cast steel railway wheels.
In a document posted on the International Trade Commission's website, the panel said that one of its judges, Carl Charneski, had issued an initial determination that Amsted's secrets had been misappropriated.
The company had accused two U.S. companies -- Standard Car Truck Company Inc, owned by Wabtec (WAB.N), and Barber Tianrui Railway Supply LLC -- of misappropriating the secrets.
It had also named two Chinese companies in the suit: Tianrui Group Co Ltd and Tianrui Group Foundry Co Ltd.
When Amsted filed the suit in August 2008, it asked the ITC to issue a cease and desist order and to issue an order barring the importation of products made using trade secrets owned by Amsted. Judge Charneski is expected to recommend a remedy within weeks.
The case must also go to the full commission, which will either approve or reject the decision by the administrative law judge. (Reporting by Diane Bartz, editing by Matthew Lewis)
