Phillips

California Jury Hands Down Historic $604.9 Million Trade Secret Verdict Against Phillips 66 for Misappropriation

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A California jury has ordered Phillips 66 Company to pay nearly $605 million in damages for misusing trade secrets belonging to Propel Fuels, Inc. The ruling, delivered on October 16, 2024, held Phillips 66 liable after concluding that it had willfully misappropriated proprietary information during acquisition negotiations with Propel, a company specializing in low-carbon fuels. The legal battle began in 2017 when Propel and Phillips 66 entered discussions to potentially merge or collaborate on Propel’s innovative renewable gasoline and diesel technologies. Propel shared sensitive data under a non-disclosure agreement to facilitate these talks. However, the … Read more

Ryan P. Phillips Announces Bid for Circuit Judge in Arkansas, Aiming to Uphold Judicial Legacy

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Magnolia, Arkansas — Judge Ryan P. Phillips has declared his candidacy for the position of Circuit Judge for the 5th Division of the 13th Judicial District of Arkansas. His announcement follows his recent appointment by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders as Circuit Court Judge for Division 3, set to take effect on January 1, 2024, succeeding the retiring Judge Edwin Keaton. Before his current role, Phillips served as the District Court Judge for the 39th Judicial District. He boasts a comprehensive legal background, having been a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 13th Judicial District from 2007 … Read more

Propel Fuels Seeks to Double Verdict to $1.2 Billion in Trade Secrets Case Against Phillips 66

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Oakland, Calif. — In a significant legal escalation, attorneys from Kobre & Kim LLP have requested that the Alameda County Superior Court judge more than double a recent $605 million jury verdict. The firm is seeking an additional $1.2 billion in exemplary damages for their client, Propel Fuels Inc., against oil giant Philips 66, citing severe misconduct related to the misappropriation of trade secrets. Two months prior, a jury concluded that Phillips 66 had engaged in the willful and malicious theft of confidential information from Propel, a company specializing in renewable fuels. Despite the damning … Read more

$604.9 Million Verdict Against Phillips 66 for Willful Trade Secrets Theft in Renewable Fuels Case

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Oakland, Calif. – In a landmark decision, Propel Fuels, Inc., a prominent California-based retailer specializing in low-carbon fuels, triumphed in a significant legal battle against Phillips 66 Company. A jury awarded Propel nearly $605 million after determining that Phillips 66 developed its renewable fuels sector by unlawfully using Propel’s confidential business insights. The decision came after a rigorous five-week trial in the Superior Court of California in Alameda County. The lawsuit, originally filed by Propel on February 16, 2022, claimed that Phillips 66 had misappropriated trade secrets that Propel had cultivated over 13 years of … Read more