BUSINESS DIGEST

OHIO

Employees sue Inkstop over owed paychecks

CLEVELAND — Employees who are owed paychecks are suing Ohio-based ink and toner supplier Inkstop Inc., which shut down last week and laid off its 500 workers at 162 stores.

The suit was filed Sunday night in Cleveland federal court against Inkstop, based in suburban Warrensville Heights. A lawyer representing the employees says about 40 have already joined the lawsuit.

The company hasn’t responded to the suit. Last week, InkStop directors told employees in a letter that workers would not receive their final paychecks, and that medical coverage and other insurance had been paid only through August.

NATION

Did Toyota violate patents? Probe will determine

NEW YORK — U.S. trade officials said they will launch an investigation into whether Toyota Motor Corp. violated patents held by a U.S. hybrid technology company.

The company, Bonita Springs, Fla.-based Paice LLC, claims that popular Toyota hybrids such as the third-generation Prius and the Lexus HS250h contain technology that violate its patents related to the propulsion of gas-electric vehicles.

Paice is seeking to bar the import of the vehicles into the U.S. The U.S. International Trade Commission, which investigates claims of trade violations, voted to launch the probe Monday.

Associated Press