Lumenis Sues Alma Lasers and its 4 founders for 200 Milli...( Claims that Alma founders former Lum...),Health

Claims that Alma founders, former Lumenis employees, misappropriated core

technology from Lumenis

YOKNEAM, Israel, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumenis Ltd. today filed a complaint in the Tel Aviv District Court in Israel against Alma Lasers Ltd. and its four founders, Ziv Karni, Yoav Avni, Nadav Bayer, and Ivgeni Kodritzki, all former employees of Lumenis, claiming misappropriation of Lumenis trade secrets and technology and for the use of such technology in Alma's primary Harmony products, which are sold worldwide. Lumenis has requested relief from the court in the form of an injunction against the use of such core technology by Alma in its products and for monetary damages in the amount of 200 million shekels based on the profits earned by Alma and its founders from the utilization of such Lumenis technology. Lumenis will also be filing a similar action against Alma Inc., the US subsidiary and distribution arm of Alma, in the Federal Court in the US.

The complaint alleges that certain core components of Alma's Harmony products are virtually identical to Lumenis components that were developed around the time the Alma founders departed from Lumenis. The complaint further alleges that at the time the four Alma founders left Lumenis to establish Alma, they were each involved in the development of Lumenis technology and products -- Ziv Karni was the head of Lumenis' R&D; Yoav Avni was employed as a mechanical engineer; Nadav Bayer was the manager of the electronics department, and Ivgeni Kodritzki worked as an electric and electronic engineer.

The claim further alleges that Alma has earned significant revenues from the sales of Harmony products -- profits that were unjustly earned as a result of the use of Lumenis technology. In addition, Alma's founders were recently paid substantial amounts by TA Associates as part of an investment agreement in Alma, profits which resulted from value created by Lumenis technology. '/>"/>