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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

North Idaho respirator company settles with former president

Associated Press

A North Idaho company that makes medical respirators has finalized a settlement with a former president and CEO accused of weakening the company.

Sagle-based Percussionaire Corp. announced on Friday that it had reached a confidential settlement with Adel Bougatef. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but both parties issued statements saying the agreement was fair.

In 2013, the company filed a lawsuit claiming that Bougatef intentionally weakened the company so he could buy or use its resources to form a rival company.

Bougatef moved from Belgium to Idaho to run the company after company founder and inventor Forrest Bird retired and selected Bougatef to take over. Bird was known for creating the first low-cost, mass-produced medical respirators, including the “Babybird” in 1970 that helped reduce infant mortality.