Following General Motors’ attempt to reinstate a civil case, the collection of Stellantis brands formerly defined by the FCA conglomerate has accused its Detroit rival of corporate espionage. GM denies the claim.
After FCA pleaded guilty to bribing UAW officials, GM launched a civil case claiming “billions” of dollars in damages for allegedly corrupting negotiations to harm it.
The case was thrown out as the court felt GM couldn’t adequately show how the automaker was harmed. Recently, though, it requested that the court reconsider the case.
Read More: GM Slaps Fiat Chrysler With RICO Lawsuit Claiming It Bribed And Corrupted Union Talks
In response, the former FCA brands accused of corporate espionage, reports The Detroit News.
“The only corporate espionage apparent on the face of GM’s Proposed Second Amended Complaint is that perpetrated by GM and its counsel in retaining private investigators to spoof the ’email addresses’ of former FCA employees in emails sent to ‘financial institutions’ around the globe,” FCA’s lawyer, Thomas Cranmer, wrote in the company’s response to GM’s request.
FCA also says that its rival’s second legal action shows that its lawyers impersonated former FCA employees in emails to prove the existence of foreign bank accounts. That is known as “spoofing” or “pretexting,” which it says violates Michigan’s Rules of Professional Conduct. GM claims, though, that FCA is now trying to misrepresent its action.
“FCA’s press release and latest court filing misstate the factual allegations set forth in GM’s amended complaint and misrepresent the lawful and proper actions undertaken in an effort to seek redress for the damage caused to it by Defendants’ years-long bribery scheme,” a GM spokesperson said in a statement.
GM says it will continue to pursue all available legal avenues to “hold FCA accountable for the damage it caused GM.”
