Settlement ends long-running legal battle.

The long-running legal battle between Clark Material Handling Company and Toyota Material Handling, USA has finally been settled.

This follows negotiation between the two parties after Toyota appealed the last ruling which awarded Clark more than USD9 million in damages.

The trial centred on Clark's appointment of Charlotte-based Southeast Industrial Equipment (SIE) in 2012, adding Clark to its range which included Toyota, Aisle-Master, Hoist and Combilift brands.

Clark brought the initial action, claiming Toyota "pressured, coerced and intimidated (SIE) ... into ending its relationship with Clark".

Last June, a district court in North Carolina awarded Clark more than USD9 million in damages after it had been initially awarded USD3 million.

The final judgement, including legal costs, was more than USD11.3 million.

Toyota appealed to the Fourth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, and both Clark and Toyota submitted legal briefs to the Court.

Prior to arguments before the appeal court, the parties agreed to a settlement of the matter, and the appeal was dismissed, according to a representative of Clark's legal team at Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP.

"Clark is pleased with the settlement," she says, without revealing the value of the final settlement.