Aircraft
Court Overturns Zunum's Trade Secrets Verdict against Boeing
U.S. District Court ruling reverses damages totaling more than $70 million
Zunum ZA10 hybrid-electric aircraft
Seattle-based start-up Zunum had sued Boeing after it withdrew support for its planned ZA10 hybrid-electric regional airliner.

The U.S. District Court in Seattle has overturned the verdict of a May 2024 jury trial that ordered Boeing to pay damages in excess of $70 million to electric aircraft start-up Zunum. In a hearing on August 14, Judge James Robart ruled in favor of all of Boeing’s claims against the earlier verdict over alleged breaches of trade secrets and interference with Zunum’s plans to partner with engine manufacturer Safran to develop the 12-seat ZA10 hybrid-electric regional airliner.

Boeing loaned a total of $9 million to Seattle-based Zunum, which also received $800,000 in grants from the state of Washington. In 2018, both the U.S. aerospace group and JetBlue Airways withdrew support, and the program ground to a halt with the start-up failing to line up other backers.

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