The phrase "associates claimed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to statements or assertions made by associates, typically in a business or organizational context.
Example: "The associates claimed that the new policy would improve productivity across the board."
Alternatives: "employees asserted" or "staff reported".
Hundreds of political supporters and associates claimed to be close to him when he was governor of California and thousands during his Presidency.
Last year Durov fled Russia after he was sought by police for his role in a traffic accident, which associates claimed was part of a political attack.
But since some of Mr Sharif's associates claimed ties to the LeJ, perhaps he saw a useful channel to the Taliban.Yet a growing view is that Mr Sharif really is set on eventual military action, and that talks are about winning time.
The self-proclaimed first lady of tax-refund fraud is Rashia Wilson (posing with the loot on her Facebook page, above) who, along with her eager associates, claimed bogus rebates of more than $11m.A degree in computer science is not needed to steal personal data.
His associates claimed that, with error rates in the 10-20 perange range, discrepancies in sensor results would ultimately have a negative impact on the league's image.
After being delayed for a month by storms, most of the promised ships did not arrive at all. Louis and his associates claimed the ships for themselves, while the rest of the army had to resume the long march to Antioch.
His associates claim he has the support of about 50 MPs.
But now his associates claim that their pirate army was created to stop Hizbul Islam and the Shabab.
The Romanian prosecutors, who are seeking 20-year sentences for Dogaru and his mother, Olga, as well as for Darie, and lesser sentences for other associates, claim that the gang, already under suspicion of other thefts and people-trafficking into the Netherlands, carefully investigated the art scene in Rotterdam after one member used his car's sat-nav to identify museums.
Another private investigator interviewed Miller's friends and associates, claiming to be acting for Reed's family, though they denied employing him.
They are suggesting that even though the lower courts found enough "commonality" in these women's situations to certify them as a class, that the Supreme Court will not, and Wal-Mart will be able to walk away from their "associates" claiming that it was local renegade managers who wronged them, not the company.
