Rivian faces trial for allegedly stealing Tesla's trade secrets

According to a preliminary ruling issued by a judge in California, electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive will face trial for allegedly encouraging employees who jumped from Tesla to leak trade secrets to the company. Judge Theodore C. Zayner of the Santa Clara County Superior Court temporarily denied Rivian's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that Tesla provided sufficient evidence for the trial. "Tesla's evidence indicates that some Rivian employees were not thoroughly investigated or disciplined," the judge wrote in the temporary order. The final hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Santa Clara Court. This legal battle began in 2020 when Tesla sued Rivian, accusing it of poaching employees and misappropriating confidential information. Although Rivian presented evidence of an investigation into the theft of trade secrets, the judge believed that "it cannot be conclusively determined that the investigation was sufficient." Rivian has previously denied these allegations