An amended lawsuit against the University of Windsor over technology that would allow buildings to switch seamlessly from solar power to the grid now accuses it of defrauding the federal government.
Marlon Hurst of Sunsource Grids filed a $40-million lawsuit in October 2013 after collaborative efforts with the university to build a prototype solar switch came to a halt in a dispute over royalties. Hurst claims the university agreed Sunsource was entitled to exercise an option to buy out its interest for $300,000 plus 5% of the royalties for five years. However, the amended Statement of Claim accuses the university of obstructing Sunsource employees and refusing to cooperate in patenting processes.
Hurst says it interfered with possible business agreements with interested third parties, including General Electric. "Knowing that General Electric was coming down, they wanted 50% or else they were not going to cooperate," says Hurst.
The document says the university also fabricated time sheets and used some of a $50,000 FedDev grant for other unnamed projects.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Hurst says he plans to take his complaint to Windsor police.
The university filed a $100,000 countersuit shortly after the original lawsuit was filed, but spokeswoman Lori Lewis says it won't be commenting on the amended action because "the matter is before the courts."