PUBLIC STATEMENT – FOR SETTLEMENT
WICHITA, Kan., Oct. 28, 2022 – Today, Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), individuals named as NIAR officials, Mammoth Freighters, Wagner Aeronautical, William Wagner, and William Tarpley announced they have reached an agreement to end their trade secret litigation, enabling NIAR to continue to operate its 777 passenger-to-freighter conversion program without restriction.
“We are extremely happy with this result,” said John Tomblin, Executive Director of NIAR. “Our focus remains on doing what we do best—continuing to be a leading conversion partner, offering our customers innovative approaches to project management and timely completion, providing and leveraging leading edge technology, and delivering unrivaled flexibility to meeting our customers’ needs now and in the future.”
Wagner Aeronautical, Inc. and Mammoth Freighters LLC filed a lawsuit more than a year ago alleging trade secret violations against David Dotzenroth, Charles Wiley Dotzenroth, and Sequoia Aircraft Conversions, later adding NIAR officials to the lawsuit. This agreement now concludes all existing litigation between NIAR and Wagner/Mammoth, without any payment from either party or restrictions on NIAR, its personnel, its customers or partners, or its conversion aircraft program going forward. The settlement includes confidentiality provisions prohibiting the ability to provide additional information.
Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research is an important resource for Kansas, benefiting both the state and the aviation and manufacturing industries by providing applied learning opportunities and jobs while driving innovation. NIAR’s seasoned team of experts and their combined 7,500 years of experience in design, production, and testing meet its customers’ needs while passing knowledge on to the next generation of aviation professionals.