Judge sides with GM, dismisses Spyker lawsuit

Friday, June 7, 2013, Vol. 37, No. 23

DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge on Monday dismissed a $3 billion lawsuit filed by Dutch car maker Spyker against General Motors Co.

Spyker sued GM last August, accusing it of unfairly blocking a deal to let a Chinese buyer take over Swedish carmaker Saab.

GM sold Saab to Spyker in 2010. Saab filed for bankruptcy protection less than a year later after GM blocked its sale to a Chinese automaker.

GM asked U.S. Judge Gershwin Drain to dismiss the suit, saying it had the right to protect its intellectual property. Spyker argued that the deals didn't involve GM's proprietary technology. Drain sided with GM and dismissed the lawsuit.

Spyker said in a statement that it will decide whether to appeal after reviewing the judge's ruling.

Saab's assets were bought out of bankruptcy by National Electric Vehicle Sweden, a Swedish company with Chinese financial backers that is developing electric cars.