Luminar Technologies has accused its founder and former CEO, Austin Russell, of evading a subpoena to provide testimony in the company's ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The company is seeking to compel Russell's deposition to gain insight into pre-bankruptcy operations and his potential bid to reacquire company assets. Russell, who was ousted from the company in 2025 following an ethics inquiry, has maintained that he is cooperating with the proceedings.
The dispute adds another layer of conflict to Luminar's turbulent bankruptcy, which was filed in December 2025. The filing followed a tumultuous year that included Russell's departure, the loss of a major contract with Volvo, and a public battle for control of the lidar maker. The court will hear the motion to compel testimony as part of the broader restructuring and asset sale process.