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    S&C Wins Tenth Circuit Reversal for Spirit AeroSystems in Dispute with Ex-CEO

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    March 8, 2023

    Spirit AeroSystems prevailed in its appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, as the court reversed a $45 million judgment against the company in a breach of contract case filed by its former CEO, Larry Lawson.

    The dispute arose after Lawson left Spirit and tried to become CEO of a competitor, Arconic, which Spirit considered a breach of the agreement that Lawson and Spirit reached when Lawson stepped down as CEO. Spirit stopped paying him under that agreement and Lawson sued.

    After Lawson prevailed in a bench trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, Sullivan & Cromwell briefed and argued the Tenth Circuit appeal. In its February 27 ruling, the appellate panel agreed with Spirit that Lawson had violated the contract and reversed the $45 million judgment. It remanded for the district court to decide whether the contract provisions conditioning Spirit's payments on Lawson's compliance are enforceable under Kansas law.

    The S&C team representing Spirit is Jeff Wall, Morgan Ratner and Zoe Jacoby.

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    Jeffrey B. Wall Headshot Photo
    Jeffrey B. Wall
    Washington, D.C.
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    Morgan L. Ratner Headshot Photo
    Morgan L. Ratner
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