The lawsuit of Tesla Motors against Henrick Fisker has gone several miles starting from its beginning. Presently, the case is scheduled to go to arbitration. Fisker was the one who requested for arbitration which was granted by San Mateo Superior Court last Wednesday. Anyway, arbitration is a private settling of any dispute instead of going to court via one or more arbitrators that make binding decision on the dispute. Later in August is the schedule of the case management conference.
If you would remember, the reason why Tesla Motors sued Henrick was because of allegations that Henrick and his company, Fisker Couchbuild, copied the information and specifications of Whitestar, an electric vehicle that Tesla is making. Tesla hired Fisker to design the Whitestar however his design was rejected. Further, based from the case, Fisker and the chief operating officer of Fisker Couchbuild, Bernhard Koehler, accepted the contract just to have an access to the confidential design information and trade secrets of Tesla Motor’s Whitestar. After they’ve got the confidential info, Fisker also announced his own Karma, which is identical to Tesla motor’s Whitestar.
Last month, Fisker Automotive responded by filing for arbitration. Based from the contract between Tesla Motors and Henrick Fisker, possible disputes are required to be settled through arbitration in Orange County, California within ninety days, Fisker said. In contrary, Tesla filed the case in San Mateo Superior Court.
Last Thursday, Fisker released his statement saying that his company, Fisker Automotive, is extremely pleased about the court’s decision because the court has allowed to have a prompt and economical resolution of Tesla’s allegations, which Fisker believed to be worthless and was brought for improper purposes. On one hand, Tesla Motors has not yet responded to Fisker’s statement and so as the court’s decision.
In the meantime, let’s just wait for further details and hope that the case would have a positive outcome for both of them can give great contribution in the development of auto industry. Tesla Motor’s Whitestar looks fascinating, even just in pictures, and likewise Henrick Fisker’s Karma. Now, if both Whitestar and Karma fascinates people through pictures, how much more in reality and even more when they are tested? So, let’s just keep our fingers crossed and firmly hope that soon they will reconcile and just have healthy competition.
