Dell said to be withholding documents

Advanced Internet Technologies has accused Dell of violating a court order by withholding documents related to the ongoing lawsuit over defective computers. AIT claims Dell has refused to provide e-mail correspondence that would help prove that the latter company was aware of widespread problems that allegedly caused most motherboards to fail on several OptiPlex models sold between 2003 and 2005.

"AIT is in possession of at least one document showing that Dell senior executives were involved in the development of 'talking points' designed to minimize to Dell's customers and shareholders the full extent of capacitor failures in the OptiPlex computers," AIT asserts in the recent filing.

AIT filed the suit after distributing nearly 2,000 defective OptiPlex computers to its clients. The problems were said to have cost the company $16 million in lost contracts and $22 million in discounts designed to assuage concerns and retain customers.

Dell has yet to formally respond to the charges in court, however a company representative denied the allegations in an e-mail to CNN. "We take all court orders and our obligations to comply with them very seriously," the representative said.

By Electronista Staff