Boeing $72 Million Trade Secrets Loss Revived, Judge Removed (1)

Boeing Co. faces a revived trade secrets verdict of at least $72 million after a Ninth Circuit reversal that also removed the district court judge from the case over concerns of the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Judge James L. Robart’s “consistent rulings in Boeing’s favor,” including the error-filled opinion overturning the jury’s verdict, combined with untimely disclosures that his spouse had acquired Boeing stock, could create an appearance of partiality, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said in an opinion Thursday.

Robart’s wife twice acquired Boeing shares during litigation through a bank-managed retirement account, ...