A judge who traded Boeing stocks during Zunum Aero's case was removed after an appeals court found problematic optics regarding his impartiality. Judge James Robart stated that a bank managed trades in his wife's retirement account and insisted it did not sway his decisions. However, an appeals court reinstated a $72 million verdict against Boeing, emphasizing that delays in disclosure raised questions about the judge's neutrality. Zunum Aero alleged that Boeing sabotaged its funding efforts, having run out of resources in 2019.
This delayed disclosure, taken together with the district court's consistent rulings in Boeing's favor during and after trial, could give an objective observer reason to question the district judge's impartiality in further proceedings.
Zunum has been largely dormant since running out of money in 2019, which it blamed on Boeing stringing it along and sabotaging its efforts to obtain cash from other sources.
Jurors concluded last year that Boeing and its affiliate HorizonX had damaged Zunum by misappropriating its trade secrets and awarded $72 million.
Judge James Robart had disclosed Boeing stock trades while Zunum Aero's case against Boeing was unfolding before him.
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