LONDON—A Finnish court of appeals lifted a five-year ban on managers of tire consulting firm Black Donuts Engineering.
On Aug. 31, the district court of Pirkanmaa sentenced three executives of the firm, including the company's president and CEO, to bans of three to five years for "violating secrets" of Nokian Tyres, their former employer.
Kai Hauvala, Black Donuts president and CEO, said the Turku court of appeals made the decision to lift the ban on him and the two other executives on Sept. 19.
When asked if the decision applied to the ruling made against BDE, Hauvala said "Black Donuts, as a company, haven't made any decisions yet if it would appeal or not."
The Aug. 31 ruling by the court of Pirkanmaa decided that BDE should pay $356,000 in fines imposed on the corporation and $638,000 in loss of benefits to the state.