Analysis Group, a prominent international economics consulting firm, played a pivotal role in a high-profile trade secret misappropriation case, represented by Holwell Shuster and Goldberg LLP on behalf of their client Zunum Aero. The case, titled Zunum Aero, Inc. v. The Boeing Company, et al., involved allegations against Boeing and its subsidiary HorizonX for misusing proprietary technology related to all-electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.
The legal battle centered on accusations that Boeing exploited its investor status to access and then use Zunum’s innovative ideas and designs for its own advantage, which reportedly hindered Zunum’s fundraising efforts. Peter Finch and Andrea Hugill, leading the Analysis Group team, coordinated with industry specialists Professor Viswanath Tata and Mr. Luiz Andrade. These experts provided critical testimony about the nature and value of the disputed trade secrets during both deposition and trial phases.
Their findings suggested that Boeing not only gained from these trade secrets but also incorporated them into its own projects beyond the bounds of standard due diligence. This evidence contributed to a federal jury’s decision at the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. The jury found Boeing guilty of misappropriating 11 specific trade secrets from Zunum, leading to a significant financial judgment. Zunum was awarded over $80 million in damages, a sum that could potentially triple based on the jury’s designation of Boeing’s actions as “willful and malicious.”
This case underscores the critical importance of protecting intellectual property within the highly competitive aerospace industry and highlights the expertise that Analysis Group brings to complex legal and economic challenges.
Source: Analysis Group