Luminar is accusing its founder, Austin Russell, of dodging a subpoena in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The lidar company claims Russell is evading requests for information needed to determine potential legal action against him. The emergency filing was made over the weekend.

Luminar has been trying to recover company-owned devices from Russell since his May resignation. Six computers were recovered, but the company still seeks Russell's company phone and a copy of his personal phone. Luminar's lawyers allege Russell misled them about his location during the holidays. They are requesting court permission to serve Russell via mail or email.

The dispute centers on data protection. Russell claims he wants assurances that personal data on his devices will be protected. Luminar declined to offer specific assurances, citing court-established data handling processes.

Luminar, a maker of lidar sensors used in autonomous vehicles, filed for bankruptcy in late December. Lidar technology uses lasers to create 3D maps of the surrounding environment. This technology is crucial for self-driving cars and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

The court will now consider Luminar's request for alternative service methods. The outcome could significantly impact Luminar's ability to pursue potential legal action against its founder.