Aerosonic Lawsuit Against Joby Aviation, Jury Awards $116.9 Million Over Trade Secrets and NDA Breach

A federal jury in Tampa has ordered electric air-taxi developer Joby Aero, Inc. to pay approximately $116.9 million to Aerosonic LLC after finding that Joby breached a nondisclosure agreement and willfully misappropriated Aerosonic’s trade secrets involving aircraft air-data probes. The verdict is not yet a final judgment, and Joby says it will challenge it.

The verdict was returned on October 2, 2026, in Aerosonic LLC v. Joby Aero, Inc., No. 8:25-cv-00554-VMC-AAS, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. Aerosonic sued in March 2025, accusing the eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft developer of using Aerosonic’s proprietary designs, engineering information and testing data to build its own air-data probes.

The jury awarded about $68.6 million for breach of the nondisclosure agreement (NDA), $29.9 million for trade-secret misappropriation and $18.3 million in exemplary damages after finding the misappropriation willful and malicious. The jury also rejected Joby’s counterclaims, including allegations that Aerosonic breached the agreement and supplied defective probes.

Joby says it strongly disagrees with the verdict, maintains it independently developed its air-data system, has asked the court to overturn the verdict and intends to pursue post-trial and appellate remedies.

Aerosonic v. Joby Aviation Lawsuit: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Case	Aerosonic LLC v. Joby Aero, Inc.
Case number	8:25-cv-00554-VMC-AAS
Court	U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division
Plaintiff	Aerosonic LLC (Clearwater, Florida; a TransDigm Group subsidiary)
Defendant	Joby Aero, Inc. (Santa Cruz, California); Joby Aviation, Inc. was named in the original case
Filed	March 7, 2025
Main federal statute	Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836
Dispute	Alleged misuse of Aerosonic air-data probe technology; breach of NDA
Jury verdict	October 2, 2026
Total verdict	Approximately $116.9 million
NDA breach damages	$68.6 million
Trade-secret compensatory damages	$29.9 million
Exemplary damages	$18.3 million
Joby’s counterclaims	Rejected by the jury
Final judgment?	Not yet
Settlement?	None reported
Case type	Private commercial dispute. Not a class action

Why Did Aerosonic Sue Joby Aero Over Air-Data Probes?

Aerosonic makes aviation sensors and instruments, including air-data systems and probes. An air-data probe measures air pressure around an aircraft so flight computers can calculate airspeed, altitude, angle of attack and sideslip, which are critical to flight control.

According to Aerosonic’s allegations, the companies signed a mutual nondisclosure agreement in September 2021, and Aerosonic began supplying probes for Joby’s flight-test aircraft in 2022. Aerosonic says it shared engineering drawings, test procedures and reports, 3D models, wind-tunnel data and other proprietary information. After receiving the first probes, Joby allegedly asked to purchase the intellectual-property rights to them, and Aerosonic refused.

Aerosonic alleged that Joby kept soliciting confidential information while developing its own competing system, using Aerosonic’s trade secrets to shortcut years of development. It claimed Joby built its own probe system in roughly two years, far faster than would have been possible without that information. Joby denied this and said it developed its air-data system independently through its own engineering and manufacturing work.

What Did the Jury Award Aerosonic From Joby Aero?

$68.6 Million for Joby’s Breach of the NDA

The largest component was about $68.6 million for breach of the nondisclosure agreement, a contract governing how confidential information may be used or disclosed. The jury agreed with Aerosonic that Joby violated those restrictions.

$29.9 Million for Joby’s Trade-Secret Misappropriation

The jury awarded about $29.9 million in compensatory damages on the trade-secret claim, intended to account for Aerosonic’s losses and Joby’s gains from the misappropriation, according to reporting on the verdict.

$18.3 Million in Exemplary Damages Against Joby

The jury added about $18.3 million in exemplary damages after finding the misappropriation willful and malicious. That finding goes beyond improper use of confidential information. The Defend Trade Secrets Act permits exemplary damages in certain circumstances involving willful and malicious misappropriation.

Together the awards come to approximately $116.9 million. That is the jury verdict, not money already paid to Aerosonic.

What Is the Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1836)?

The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) gives trade-secret owners a federal civil cause of action for misappropriation under 18 U.S.C. § 1836. Remedies can include damages for actual loss, damages for unjust enrichment, exemplary damages for willful and malicious misappropriation and, in circumstances the statute specifies, attorney’s fees. The docket lists the case as a DTSA action under 18 U.S.C. § 1836(b).

Did Joby Aviation Admit It Took Aerosonic’s Trade Secrets?

No. Joby denies the allegations. It says the verdict is unsupported by the evidence and inconsistent with the law, and that it independently developed its air-data system. The precise description is that a federal jury found Joby liable for trade-secret misappropriation and breach of the NDA. Joby disputes that result.

What Happened to Joby’s Counterclaims Against Aerosonic?

Joby filed counterclaims accusing Aerosonic of breaching the parties’ agreement and supplying defective air-data probes. The jury rejected them, so Aerosonic prevailed on its own claims and defeated Joby’s at trial. In December 2025, the court had partially dismissed several of Joby’s counterclaims against Aerosonic and TransDigm.

Is the $116.9 Million Aerosonic Verdict a Final Judgment?

Not yet. The figure comes from the jury’s October 2 verdict, which remains subject to post-trial proceedings and a potential appeal. A jury verdict and a final judgment are different procedural events. Post-trial motions can ask the trial court to alter, set aside or reduce a verdict, and an appeal can follow. Until a final judgment is entered and any appeals are resolved, the amount is not collectible in the ordinary course.

What Happens Next in Aerosonic v. Joby Aero?

Joby’s immediate step is post-trial proceedings, including its request to overturn the verdict. If the district court denies relief, Joby can seek appellate review. For Aerosonic, the key question is whether the verdict becomes an enforceable final judgment and whether the amount changes along the way.

Why Was the Original Aerosonic Complaint Dismissed in 2025?

In June 2025 the court dismissed Aerosonic’s original complaint without prejudice as an impermissible “shotgun pleading,” saying it improperly incorporated allegations from prior counts and did not clearly separate conduct attributed to Joby Aero from conduct attributed to Joby Aviation. Aerosonic filed an amended complaint on June 17, 2025, and on August 29, 2025, Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington denied Joby Aero’s motion to dismiss it. The dismissal did not end the case, and it moved on to discovery and trial.

What Role Did Archer Aviation Play in the Aerosonic Case?

Archer Aviation was neither plaintiff nor defendant. On March 2, 2026, the court allowed Archer to intervene for the limited purpose of protecting its own confidential or proprietary information, because Aerosonic had also done business with Archer. That does not mean Archer was found liable.

Is the Aerosonic Case the Same as Joby’s Other Lawsuit in California?

No. A separate case, Joby Aero, Inc. v. TransDigm Group Inc. et al., No. 5:25-cv-04912, is pending in the Northern District of California and involves different claims. The Aerosonic verdict comes from the Middle District of Florida.

Is the Aerosonic v. Joby Verdict a Settlement or a Class Action?

No to both. This is a jury verdict in a commercial intellectual-property dispute between two companies. There is no class, settlement fund, administrator or claim form, and consumers, investors and Joby customers cannot file claims or join the case. For how claims work in actual settlements, see How To Claim A Lawsuit Settlement?

Why Does the Joby Aviation Verdict Matter to the eVTOL Industry?

The verdict has financial significance for Joby, which is trying to commercialize electric aircraft, though its ultimate impact depends on whether it survives post-trial proceedings and appeal. It also shows the legal risk in an industry where developers rely on suppliers for specialized components. NDAs and trade-secret protections govern how technical information is shared in those relationships, and a dispute over their use can lead to very large damages even before the cost of litigation and appeals.

Aerosonic v. Joby Aero Timeline

Date	Development
September 2021	Aerosonic and Joby enter a mutual NDA, according to Aerosonic
2022	Aerosonic begins supplying air-data probes to Joby’s flight-test aircraft
March 7, 2025	Aerosonic files suit in the Middle District of Florida
June 10, 2025	Court dismisses the original complaint without prejudice as a shotgun pleading
June 17, 2025	Aerosonic files an amended complaint
August 29, 2025	Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington denies Joby Aero’s motion to dismiss
December 2025	Court partially dismisses several Joby counterclaims against Aerosonic and TransDigm
March 2, 2026	Archer Aviation allowed to intervene for a limited protective-order purpose
October 2, 2026	Jury returns its verdict
Current	Verdict subject to post-trial proceedings and potential appeal

Frequently Asked Questions About the Aerosonic v. Joby Aero Lawsuit

What is the Aerosonic lawsuit against Joby Aviation about?

Aerosonic alleged that Joby breached a nondisclosure agreement and misappropriated Aerosonic’s trade secrets while developing its own aircraft air-data probes.

How much did the jury award Aerosonic?

About $116.9 million: roughly $68.6 million for the NDA breach, $29.9 million for trade-secret misappropriation and $18.3 million in exemplary damages.

Did Joby Aviation lose the Aerosonic lawsuit?

A federal jury found Joby liable on Aerosonic’s contract and trade-secret claims and rejected Joby’s counterclaims. The verdict is subject to post-trial proceedings and potential appeal.

Did the jury find Joby’s conduct willful?

Yes. It found the trade-secret misappropriation willful and malicious, which supported the exemplary damages.

Is the $116.9 million final?

No. It is the jury’s verdict. Joby has asked the court to overturn it and plans to pursue post-trial and appellate remedies.

Is there an Aerosonic and Joby settlement?

No settlement has been reported.

Can consumers file a claim or join the case?

No. It is a private commercial dispute with no class and no claim form.

What law did Aerosonic use against Joby?

The Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836, plus contract claims over the parties’ NDA.

What did Joby say about the verdict?

That it strongly disagrees, believes the verdict is unsupported by the evidence and inconsistent with the law, and maintains it independently developed its air-data system.

Sources and Legal Authorities

• Aerosonic LLC v. Joby Aviation, Inc. et al., No. 8:25-cv-00554 docket (Justia Dockets)
• Los Angeles Times: Joby Aviation hit with $116.9-million verdict in trade secrets lawsuit
• Aviation International News: Jury Sides with Aerosonic in Joby Aviation eVTOL Trade Secrets Case
• The Motley Fool: Joby Hit With Over $100 Million in Damages in IP Lawsuit Verdict
• Reuters: Air taxi maker Joby Aero owes $116.9 million in trade secrets case, US jury says
• Joby Aero, Inc. v. TransDigm Group Inc. et al., No. 5:25-cv-04912 docket (Justia Dockets)
• 18 U.S.C. § 1836 (Defend Trade Secrets Act)

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not legal advice. A jury verdict is not necessarily the final resolution of a case, and each side’s allegations are not established facts unless found by the court or jury.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts checked against the federal court docket in Aerosonic LLC v. Joby Aero, Inc. (Justia Dockets) and published reporting on the October 2, 2026 verdict by the Los Angeles Times, Aviation International News, The Motley Fool and Reuters, as of October 8, 2026. Last Updated: October 8, 2026.