Bankrupt Lordstown Motors reaches $40 million settlement with Karma Automotive

August 15, 2023 10:33 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: Lordstown Motors and Foxconn logo is seen in this illustration taken, May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) - Lordstown Motors said on Tuesday it had reached a $40-million settlement with Karma Automotive over a 2020 lawsuit in which the now-bankrupt electric vehicle firm was accused of stealing proprietary technology.

The settlement, placed with the bankruptcy court for approval, involves $5 million to be paid as royalty for the use of Karma's intellectual property, which Lordstown was accused of having misappropriated.

California-based Karma had sued Lordstown for allegedly poaching its employees and stealing technology used in vehicles' infotainment systems. That case is scheduled for trial in September.

In June, electric truck company Lordstown filed for bankruptcy protection and put itself up for sale after failing to resolve a dispute over a promised investment from Taiwan's Foxconn.

According to a filing, Lordstown's debtors have requested the settlement to be approved by the bankruptcy court on or before August 28, but a hearing has not been scheduled so far.

In case the settlement is not approved and the case goes to trial, Lordstown will continue to defend against Karma's claims, the filing added.

(This story has been corrected to remove the reference to Lordstown-Karma trial being placed on hold in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal)



Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

Reuters

Related Entities

Bankruptcy