Evidence Fight Breaks Out as Bribery Trial Nears for Ex-Cognizant Legal Chief

Jones Day partner James Loonam, lead defense attorney in the government's corruption case against former Cognizant executives, says the prosecution's star witness is pointing the finger" at ex-legal chief Steven Schwartz and his co-defendant, former president Gordon Coburn, to cover up his own misconduct.

February 01, 2024 at 03:25 PM

6 minute read

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

By Maria Dinzeo

What You Need to Know

Former Cognizant legal chief Steven Schwartz is fighting to get evidence admitted that his defense says will show that he and his co-defendant did not violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Schwartz and former Cognizant President Gordon Coburn are charged with authorizing a $2 million bribe to Indian officials.
The two are set to go on trial in May.

Former Cognizant Chief Legal Officer Steven Schwartz and former Cognizant President Gordon Coburn are battling with prosecutors over whether a federal judge should admit evidence that the executives claim would help prove they are innocent of the bribery allegations they face.

The fight broke out in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in recent weeks as the parties prepare for a May trial. It's the latest twist in the drama-filled case. The trial was to occur last October but was delayed because the government was unable to persuade Indian officials to allow its key witness, Srimanikadan Ramamoorthy, the former Cognizant vice president of administration, to travel to the United States.

Cognizant, based in Teaneck, New Jersey, is an information technology consulting and services behemoth, with $19 billion in annual revenue, a stock market value of $39 billion and 355,000 employees, most based in India.