Very bias Blog, but oh well.
Jameel Ahed took the fifth in iRobot Lawsuit deposition!
Strange, but true. You remember the Dumpster diving pics from iRobot's lawsuit against Robotic FX, right? Well, Robotic FX CEO Jameel Ahed in his deposition apparently didn't want to talk about what evidence he may have tossed, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. You know, exactly the kind of thing that inspires confidence in a company that is about to deliver 3,000 robots to protect our soldiers for $280 million.
That's from a new document provided by iRobot investor simpsonsez via Pacer, which also includes the allegation from iRobot that their investigators found a laptop in Robotic FX's COO's home whose hard drive had recently been erased! That revelation and more are included in this iRobot filing in Alabama opposing Robotic FX's request to move the case to Massachusetts. You can see just how many times Jameel's deposition testimony had to be stricken here (A lot).
Robotic FX meanwhile argues in this filing that iRobot is really trying to be awarded the $280 million xBot contract and that Federal Claims Court is the correct venue for that now that the contract has been awarded. They also argue that the robots are needed in a time or war to protect soldiers (true) and that the contract calls for Robotic FX to deliver *two* robots by Sept. 24th to the military. (IF the injunction is granted, Robotic FX obviously will not then be able to fulfill the contract.)
Other documents are relatively minor:
* Here are the requirements for the xBot competition.
* The Birmingham Council minutes
show a sale from Robotic FX in September 2006.
* A Declaration from one of iRobot's lawyers attesting to the authenticity of documents.
There is a court hearing today. It's unclear if we will know anything, however, as simpsonsez notes, as iRobot has successfully had some of the case put under court seal, presumably so they can protect the company secrets that they allege Jameel swiped for his Negotiator robots.
Big thanks to simpsonsez! |
