The Force India team remains confident that its assets will not be seized at the Italian Grand Prix following last week’s news that the Silverstone-based outfit has been fined 1 million euros (820,000 pounds) after its legal disagreement with wind tunnel operator Aerolab.
The feud was made public when Aerolab sued Force India in November of last year for what it described as ‘serious and persistent’ breaches of contract. This was followed up on 1 June by claims that Force India was then taking legal action against Lotus Racing (which now works with Aerolab), whose car design was believed by Force India to be a model based upon its own.
With Lotus having told GPUpdate.net that it was only caught up in conflict involving the other two parties, Force India duly confirmed on 2 June that it was suing Lotus and its Chief Technical Officer (Mike Gascoyne, former Force India Technical Director).
However, it then emerged last Friday that Force India has been fined 1 million euros – plus damages and interest at the rate of 8 percent - by The Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in London. It is now reported that Force India could attempt to force Aerolab into a settlement which it will not be willing to accept.
As such, at Monza next month Force India’s assets will be under Italian jurisdiction, which could result in further action between it and Aerolab.
However, a Force India spokesperson has explained that chances are low of an asset seizure at Monza, adding that the 1 million euro payment was submitted to the court in September last year.
“The court determined the two cases should be considered separately and ordered Force India to release the 1,074,000 euros lodged with the court and also pay associated costs,” the spokesperson is quoted as saying by Reuters.
“Force India is in the process of complying with the court's instructions and actively progressing the IP (intellectual property) litigation.”
The story so far:
- 20 August 2010: Force India fined 1 million euros
- 2 June 2010: Force India sues Lotus and Gascoyne
- 1 June 2010: Lotus denies misconduct in Force India dispute
- 1 June 2010: 'Force India suing Lotus over car design'
- 6 November 2009: Wind tunnel operator sues Force India
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