Boeing Tells Leery Ninth Circuit It Wrongly Heard Secrets Appeal

A Ninth Circuit panel expressed skepticism at Boeing Co.'s argument that the court lacked jurisdiction when it revived a $72 million trade secrets verdict against the aerospace company.

After Boeing lost its appeal over the award to Zunum Aero Inc. at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, it argued in its bid for rehearing that the Federal Circuit should have heard the case instead. The three-judge panel, which decided the original appeal without oral argument, requested additional briefing on the question and scheduled arguments.

Zunum’s case accusing Boeing of stealing alternative-fuel engineering secrets under the pretext of ...