Motorola: Former CFO Alleges Misstated Internal Forecasts

The curious case of Paul Liska's departure as Motorola's (MOT) chief financial officer just became more bizarre. In court documents supplied to by Cook County (Ill.) court officials, Liska details differences with his former employer, alleging that the Schaumburg (Ill.)-based cell-phone maker repeatedly misrepresented the financial performance of its Mobile Devices unit and that he was unlawfully dismissed.

In a complaint filed in late February in Cook County Circuit Court and held under seal by Judge Allen S. Goldberg until Apr. 9, Liska says he became increasingly alarmed over what he considers misstatements of the division's performance. He also alleges that he was unlawfully fired when he brought his concerns to the attention of the board. The documents, along with Motorola's response, depict an increasingly acrimonious relationship between Liska and Motorola's management against a backdrop of worsening financial performance in what was once its flagship business.