By Justin Wastnage in London
The two co-founders of internet search engine Google are embroiled in a legal dispute over the design of the interior for an ongoing luxury conversion of a Boeing 767.
US financial daily Wall Street Journal reports aviation interior design specialist Leslie Jennings is suing Sergey Brin and Larry Page for breach of contract over design work carried out in early 2005, when the two bought the former Qantas Airways jet. Blue City Holdings, the aviation company that owns the 767 on behalf of Brin and Page, is countersuing Jennings for mismanaging the design work.
The Google founders fired Jennings last October, but pushed ahead with the interior fitting of the aircraft with San Antonio, Texas completion centre Gore Design. Jennings alleges the final design borrows heavily from his original blueprint. Jennings has filed a $200,000 charge against the aircraft to secure the payment of the debt he claims he is owed by Blue City. Blue City, in turn, alleges Jennings failed to fulfil his contract to oversee the aircraft's renovation. Jennings was to have been paid around $340,000 for his role in the $10 million VIP conversion project.
Papers filed in California Superior Court reveal the technology entrepreneurs' tastes and aspirations. Interior designs have been made public as part of the legal proceedings (pictured below), with Jennings claiming the two made repeated alterations to the design including arguments over whose bed would be larger.
The two co-founders of internet search engine Google are embroiled in a legal dispute over the design of the interior for an ongoing luxury conversion of a Boeing 767.
US financial daily Wall Street Journal reports aviation interior design specialist Leslie Jennings is suing Sergey Brin and Larry Page for breach of contract over design work carried out in early 2005, when the two bought the former Qantas Airways jet. Blue City Holdings, the aviation company that owns the 767 on behalf of Brin and Page, is countersuing Jennings for mismanaging the design work.
The Google founders fired Jennings last October, but pushed ahead with the interior fitting of the aircraft with San Antonio, Texas completion centre Gore Design. Jennings alleges the final design borrows heavily from his original blueprint. Jennings has filed a $200,000 charge against the aircraft to secure the payment of the debt he claims he is owed by Blue City. Blue City, in turn, alleges Jennings failed to fulfil his contract to oversee the aircraft's renovation. Jennings was to have been paid around $340,000 for his role in the $10 million VIP conversion project.
Papers filed in California Superior Court reveal the technology entrepreneurs' tastes and aspirations. Interior designs have been made public as part of the legal proceedings (pictured below), with Jennings claiming the two made repeated alterations to the design including arguments over whose bed would be larger.
The whereabouts of the aircraft is still unknown. From Gore Design’s hangar the aircraft has been positioned to an as-yet undisclosed location. Brin and Page plan to use the aircraft for corporate trips to long-haul destinations.
External link:
View Wall Street Journal's television account of the tussle for the Googlejet.
Source: Flight International
