posted 11-20-2007 07:14 PM               

Passaic, NJ: (May-31-07) A federal lawsuit was filed against Hilborn-Hamburger Inc. of Passaic, a major New Jersey military insignia supplier, alleging that the company provided thousands of cheap and defective medals, rank badges and other uniform insignia to the US armed forces. Hilborn-Hamburger provided insignia ranging from the coveted dolphin breast pins worn by US submariners and the "eagle and globe" collar pins of the US Marine Corps, to the special badges earned by US Navy astronauts. The suit claimed that the company's business polices were plain dishonest and deceptive and that the men and women of the armed services who earn the honor to wear these insignia deserved better. Hilborn-Hamburger Inc. was accused of substituting various cheaper plated metal for brass, and other less-expensive materials as part of more than $12 million worn of insignia items sold to the military since 1999. In a settlement reached, the company agreed to pay more than $251,000 to settle federal charges.