A team of trial lawyers, comprised of lawyers from New York City litigation boutique Holwell Shuster & Goldberg and Corr Cronin partner Steve Fogg, recently won a significant jury verdict against Boeing after a two week trial in federal court in Seattle, Washington.

Zunum was founded in 2013 as a small electric commuter aircraft developer and manufacturer. After Boeing made a $5 million investment in the company in 2017, Zunum shared significant portions of its design, technology, and other intellectual property with the aerospace manufacturer.

In 2020, Zunum filed suit in Seattle alleging that Boeing misappropriated those trade secrets, breached confidentiality provisions in contracts between Boeing and Zunum, and generally interfered with and thwarted its progress in the emerging short-haul electric aircraft market.

On May 30, 2024, a nine-member federal jury agreed that Boeing “willfully and maliciously” misused Zunum’s technology, breached confidentiality and interfered with its business development. The jury awarded Zunum damages of $81.3 million for trade secret misappropriation, $67.08 million for breach of contract, and $11.56 million for interfering with Zunum’s business. Because the jury also found that Boeing’s misappropriation was willful and malicious, the trade secret damage award may be trebled. Judge James Robart, who presided over the jury trial, will also preside over post-verdict proceedings regarding the ultimate award, which may also be subject to de-duplication and offsets.

Scott Danner and Vincent Levy led the HSG team. Boeing was represented by a team of lawyers from Hueston Henningan.

Related:

• Seattle Times 6/3/2024: Jury finds Boeing stole technology from electric airplane startup Zunum
  
• MSN 6/1/2024: Boeing Fined $72 Million for Stealing Trade Secrets
• Economic Times 6/1/2024: Boeing hit with $72 million verdict in EV aircraft trade secrets case
• Reuters 5/31/2024: Boeing hit with $72 mln verdict in EV aircraft trade secrets case
• Forbes 5/31/2024: Boeing’s New Nightmare: Potential Damages Of $235M In Trade Secrets Suit
• GeekWire 5/31/2024: Seattle federal jury says Boeing should pay $72M to Zunum Aero in trade secrets case
• Aviation Week 5/31/2024: Jury Awards Zunum Aero Founders Damages From Boeing | Aviation Week Network
• Law360 5/31/2024: Law360’s Legal Lions of the Week
• Law 360 5/30/2024: Jury Awards Electric Jet Startup $72M In Boeing IP Case

Corr Cronin LLP is a leading boutique litigation law firm based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1999, the firm is known for its exceptional trial advocacy, strategic thinking, and relentless dedication to its clients’ success. Corr Cronin represents clients across a wide range of industries in complex civil litigation matters including commercial litigation, intellectual property disputes, product liability claims, and professional liability defense.