Luminar's Legal Showdown with Ex-CEO Austin Russell Intensifies

Luminar’s forensic team was turned away by Austin Russell’s security team on New Year’s Day — just one episode in a months-long legal tug-of-war over the ex-CEO’s company devices.

Luminar Technologies, currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, alleges that founder Austin Russell has evaded subpoenas and withheld company-owned devices—including a phone—since his May resignation. Russell’s legal team has repeatedly denied these claims, asserting their client is cooperating while demanding protections for personal data.

“The company declined, so we will follow the court-established process for data handling protections instead,” said Russell’s lawyer Leonard Shulman in a statement. Luminar’s legal team, however, claims Russell’s security team turned away a forensic examiner at his Florida mansion on New Year’s Day and provided false information about his location.

“Any characterization that I have been uncooperative is wholly inaccurate, Russell wrote in a January 2 email.

Luminar seeks court approval to sell its semiconductor unit to Quantum Computing, Inc., and is accepting bids for its lidar division until January 9. Russell’s venture, Russell AI Labs, previously attempted to acquire Luminar and now plans to submit a bankruptcy bid.

A Weil, Gotshal lawyer representing Luminar wrote in court filings: “He is going to evade service as long as possible,” after failed attempts to serve Russell with legal documents.

Luminar’s lawyers have repeatedly stated they have no intention of looking at any documents beyond those that are Luminar-related.