On September 30, 2020, federal law enforcement arrested and filed charges against Martin Kao, then chief executive officer of Martin Defense Group, LLC (now known as PacMar Technologies LLC), a government contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense.  The charges concerned Kao fraudulently obtaining $12.8 million in COVID-19 relief funds on behalf of Martin Defense Group.  An investor, Navatek Capital Inc., then took steps to remove Kao as manager of Martin Defense Group and seek damages on behalf of the company against Kao.

During the course of the civil action against Kao, the court sealed numerous documents based on the parties’ agreement, without any apparent consideration for the public’s right of access.  Federal authorities also subsequently charged Kao with violating federal campaign finance laws and with mortgage fraud.

The Law Center moved to unseal several documents in the civil action, including a temporary restraining order and the arbitration award confirmed by the circuit court in a judgment against Kao.  The case was assigned to the Honorable Gary W.B. Chang.  On August 7, 2023, Judge Chang entered an order unsealing the documents.  No. 1CCV-20-1511.

• Motion to Unseal Court Records (5/31/23)
  • Kao Memorandum in Opposition (6/13/23)
  • Reply Memorandum (6/15/23)
  • Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Granting Motion to Unseal Court Records (8/7/23)

Unsealed Documents

• Dkt 20 – Declaration of S. Loui
• Dkt 44 – Stipulated TRO
• Dkt 86 – Motion to seal with various exhibits
• Dkt 106 – E-mail
• Dkt 107 – E-mail
• Dkt 108 – Memorandum of conference call
• Dkt 109 – Exhibit with mix of documents
• Dkt 110 – Correspondence
• Dkt 258 – Arbitration Award