Judge says Motorola violated his order

Motorola Inc. may face a fine of as much as $100 million for allowing expert witnesses to read trial transcripts before testifying in a $10-billion trade-secret case that ended in a hung jury, a judge said.

State Circuit Judge Leroy Moe in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., reserved his ruling on a fine while refusing to grant SPS Technologies Corp. outright victory on its claim that Motorola stole its idea for a vehicle-tracking system.

Two witnesses for Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola said they received trial transcripts before taking the stand. Moe had ordered that witnesses not be exposed to the testimony of others.