Background of the Lawsuit Against Prosser and Ramacciotti
In July, Apple initiated a lawsuit against Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti. The company alleged that Ramacciotti misappropriated trade secrets and violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
These allegations stem from a reported incident earlier in the year:
Ramacciotti allegedly accessed a development iPhone belonging to Ethan Lipnik (then an Apple employee) and conducted a FaceTime call to display details of what was described as the "Liquid Glass redesign of iOS 26" to Prosser.
Legal Proceedings: Default Judgment Against Prosser
Court records indicate that Ramacciotti cooperated with Apple and the court following the lawsuit filing. Prosser, however, did not respond to Apple's complaint by the specified deadline.
Consequently, in October, the court granted Apple's request for a default judgment against Prosser, which signifies that he forfeited his right to formally contest the lawsuit's allegations.
Prosser had previously stated that he had been in active communication with Apple regarding the case, despite the court documents.
Discovery Efforts Continue: Prosser's Deposition Scheduled
Apple and Ramacciotti's legal teams filed a joint status report this week, informing the court that discovery exchanges are ongoing. Apple is continuing efforts to ascertain the full extent of Ramacciotti's access on Lipnik's iPhone.
The report also confirmed that Apple has issued document and deposition subpoenas to Prosser. Prosser has acknowledged these subpoenas, and Apple is coordinating with him to schedule a date for his deposition. This coordination is occurring despite the previous default judgment against Prosser.
Purpose of Deposition and Potential Remedies
Prosser's deposition and other discovery obligations are intended to help determine the scope of Apple's confidential information that was accessed.
This process will ultimately assist the court in deciding what damages and remedies may be awarded to Apple.
Apple's Requested Relief
In its lawsuit, Apple has requested a jury trial and is seeking several forms of relief, including:
- Judgment in Apple’s favor on all causes of action.
- Injunctive relief deemed necessary and appropriate by the Court.
- Damages to be determined at trial.
- Punitive damages based on alleged willful and malicious misappropriation of trade secrets.
- An order prohibiting defendants from using or disclosing Apple’s confidential information and requiring them to return or destroy any such information.
- Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the maximum legal rate.
- Reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred.
- Any other relief the Court deems just and proper.