Zunum Aero, an electric aircraft startup, successfully persuaded a federal jury in Seattle in Boeing owed $ 72 million for appropriating its trade secrets to fuel rival hybrid-electric planes. The jurors reached a consensus that Boeing had imitated Zunum's technology and marginalised it within the emerging short-haul electric aircraft sector subsequent to its investment in the company. The jury granted Zunum approximately $ 81.2 million in total for the claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and an additional $ 11.6 million for tortious interference. However, the jury also determined that Zunum had not adequately lessened damages, resulting in a reduction of the overall award to about $ 72 million. It is possible that a portion of the award might be tripled under trade secrets legislation.
"Boeing respectfully disagrees with the jury's verdict, which is not supported by the law or the facts," the company stated in a release. Boeing expressed intentions to contest the ruling.
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled in favour of Boeing on its counterclaims, asserting that Zunum had violated a contract by neglecting to repay Boeing $9 million in loans plus interest.