LG Chem accuses SK Innovation of destroying evidence

LG Chem on Nov. 14 said it has requested the US International Trade Commission to make a default judgement against SK Innovation for destroying evidence and failing to comply with the commission’s digital forensics orders, which indicates contempt of court.

SK Innovation, on the other hand, said the LG unit was trying to mislead the public opinion, and that it will continue to comply with legal procedures as it has been do so far.

LG Chem submitted a 67-age request and 94 pieces of evidence to the ITC, which the commission revealed via its website on Nov. 13, US time.

“SK Innovation has been systematically destroying evidence, such as by dictating emails to be deleted,” said LG Chem officials. This indicates not only obstruction of justice, but also court contempt.

According to the LG affiliate, SK Innovation on April 12 called for 75 related departments to delete emails with 75 excel sheets attached outlining files and emails involving the patent infringement issue with LG Chem. Some of the emails called for SK Innovation to delete all emails and documents with relation to the LG Chem, and for SK Innovation’s US corporation to watch out for the possibility of censorship or confiscation.

Based on this, LG Chem said it believes SK Innovation had been systematically passing around the company’s corporate secrets it stole from LG Chem via emails and in-house conferences.

In April this year, LG Chem filed a lawsuit against SK Innovation for infringing on its patents regarding EV batteries. Since then, the South Korean government has tried to intervene, but to no avail.
 

The Elec is South Korea’s No.1 tech news platform.