Google CEO Sundar Pichai will testify in Epic’s lawsuit against Google on Tuesday. Epic plans to call Pichai as a witness as it claims Google Play is an illegal monopoly.
In court documents on Tuesday, Google requested use of a podium in the courtroom, indicating that Pichai does appear to be testifying; Last month, while testifying in the US against Google, Pichai stood behind a podium instead of sitting because of apparent issues with his past. (Judge James Donato granted the request for the stand Thursday evening.)
Pichai’s appearance isn’t a total surprise, as the CEO appeared as one of 53 witnesses that Epic said it might or might not call before the trial started. But what he says could be of great importance, given his role as CEO of the company and also because employees as high up the chain as Pichai himself automatically deleted conversations. Epic has repeatedly accused Google of systematically destroying evidence to keep it out of court, and Judge James Donato is letting Epic try to prove that to the jury at trial.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Updated November 9, 7:51 PM ET: Judge Donato granted the request for the stand.