Apple, A123 Settle Employee Poaching Lawsuit

A123 Systems, the battery designer that sued Apple for poaching key employees, has settled its case out of court. The company claimed Apple targeted employees from its advanced energy storage division, and that the workers who left violated non-compete contracts.

Apple and A123 Systems settle employee poaching lawsuitApple and A123 Systems settle employee poaching lawsuit

A123 filed its lawsuit against Apple and the five employees the iPhone and Mac maker hired. All were named in the filing.

The company said Apple hired their CFO Mujeeb Ijaz, who then lured away four more employees over an eight month window. A123 said they were critical members of projects that ultimately had to be shut down in their absence.

By March, court documents showed the two companies were working on an out of court settlement, but Apple also filed a motion to dismiss the case. In the end, it looks like they found agreeable terms for a settlement.

A123 is known for its mobile battery technology, and that's most likely what Apple wanted. Apple is said to be working on its own electric car project, which is a perfect fit for the former A123 staff.

For Apple, the lawsuit couldn't have come as a surprise, and most likely was seen as little more than a business cost to get the talent it needs for its car project. Neither company is talking about the terms of their deal, but they did tell the court the final settlement agreement would be filed soon.

[Thanks to IB Times for the heads up]