Posted on Friday 13 June 2008
Update: Tesla’s lawsuit, filed against rival hybrid-electric carmaker Fisker in April for design theft and ‘poor work’, will end in arbitration. As we reported earlier, Fisker asked for the arbitration, and under the terms of its contract with Tesla, the court has agreed. Submitting the dispute to arbitration will likely result in a more timely resolution than a protracted legal battle would have. Fisker’s legal adviser expects a decision within three months. Fisker does not plan to file a counter-suit, according to AutoWeek. “I feel very good about it,” said Fisker. “We got exactly what we wanted out of it.”
Original: Fisker Automotive has responded to the lawsuit filed against it by Tesla by asking a California court to arbitrate over the matter. Tesla filed a lawsuit last month claiming design and trade secrets for a future electric sedan were stolen by Fisker when the coachbuilder was originally commissioned to complete the design. If the arbitration proves successful it will allow both companies to avoid going to court.
The original lawsuit contends Fisker founder Henrik Fisker and its chief operating officer Bernhard Koehler fraudulently agreed to take on a $875,000 design contract from Tesla to gain access to confidential design information and trade secrets, only to release a competing vehicle – the upcoming Karma sedan (pictured).
The new request was filed at the San Mateo Superior Court on Tuesday and the hearing is now scheduled for mid-June. Speaking with Automotive News, Henrik Fisker said the allegations against him are false and that he wants the case arbitrated in Orange County. “For us, it’s simply a ridiculous suit,” he said.
In another twist, auto parts giant Magna International is suing Tesla over an unpaid bill for design work of new transmission systems for the electric roadster.
Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid concept
It’s good to know that this little fiasco ended without one of these
extraordinary, and cutting edge car companies going under…
I’m glad they figured out a way to settle it. I know people who
have met Henrik Fisker, and I don’t think a man with his professional
attitude, would do something either dubious, or something that
could hurt his, or another’s car company…