Four technology companies with strong Texas ties are facing lawsuits claiming their semiconductor components were used in Russian missiles and Iranian drones attacking civilians in Ukraine, reported the San Antonio Express-News.
The five suits, filed Wednesday in Dallas County District Court, name Texas Instruments, AMD, Intel, and distributor Mouser Electronics. Attorneys Mikal Watts of Austin and James “Jamie” Shaw of San Antonio represent about 20 plaintiffs, including families of 14 people killed and six injured. Each case seeks more than $1 million in damages.
Watts told reporters during a press conference, “Most of the damage we’re seeing there now is being caused by missiles and drones guided to their targets by American chip technology that’s being illegally exported into Russia.”
He added that these weapons have undermined U.S. security aid to Ukraine.
The lawsuits accuse the companies of “gross negligence, wrongful death, fraudulent concealment and conspiracy to evade and/or violate export restrictions” by allowing their products to reach Russia and Iran. Plaintiffs allege that microchips, processors, and programmable devices were “illegally diverted,” enabling remote guidance of weapons against civilians.
The lawsuits argue that U.S. firms are legally required to prevent technology from being sold to sanctioned countries and that warnings from government agencies and the media were ignored.
“Despite two years of savage, criminal aggression, and two years of sanctions, American technology is still fueling Russia’s murderous war against Ukraine,” the lawsuit states.
Mouser Electronics responded: “We deeply respect the legal process and will respond to this matter in court, versus the media.” So far, the other companies have not commented.
