Solar Optimum Lawsuits: Trade Secrets, Employment, and Cal/OSHA

Solar Optimum, the Glendale, California-based solar installer founded in 2008, has been involved in a range of lawsuits and regulatory actions as both plaintiff and defendant. They include a federal trade secrets case against a competitor, wrongful termination and retaliation claims from former employees, a workers’ compensation dispute, a consumer fraud suit from a customer, a Cal/OSHA citation, and a pattern of consumer complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau.

Trade Secrets Suit Against Elevation Solar

The most significant case is one Solar Optimum brought itself. In January 2023, the company sued Elevation Solar LLC and several individuals in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets under the Defend Trade Secrets Act.¹

According to the court’s May 2024 order on motions to dismiss, Solar Optimum alleged that former employee Mark Howe used another employee’s login credentials to access the company’s Salesforce customer database at least 30 times and download confidential information to personal devices. The complaint alleged that Elevation executives Greg Fasullo, Greg Andersen, and Jameson Dequinia directed Howe to obtain those credentials. When Howe expressed fear of being caught, Fasullo reportedly told him that “Elevation has bad ass attorneys.” Solar Optimum further alleged that Howe created new documents from the stolen data, saved information to a USB drive, and displayed the Salesforce account on a television for Elevation executives. Howe was also alleged to have signed an Elevation non-disclosure agreement modeled on his Solar Optimum agreement, using stolen document identifiers.²

Judge Susan M. Brnovich denied the motions to dismiss filed by Andersen, Dequinia, and the Fasullo defendants in May 2024, allowing the case to proceed.³ About six months later, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal. On November 21, 2024, Judge Krissa M. Lanham granted the stipulation, dismissing the case with prejudice, with each side bearing its own attorneys’ fees and costs.¹ No settlement terms were made public.

Employment and Labor Claims

Ara Krikorian — Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

Former employee Ara Krikorian sued Solar Optimum in Los Angeles County Superior Court in September 2024. The operative First Amended Complaint, filed in March 2025, includes claims under California Labor Code section 1102.5, which prohibits retaliation against employees who report suspected legal violations.⁴ The complaint also alleges unpaid wages tied to Krikorian’s compensation structure. The court denied a motion to seal the retaliation allegations, finding them “necessary to understand Plaintiff’s allegations and claims for damages.”⁵

In April 2025, the court granted Krikorian’s motion to compel discovery and ordered Solar Optimum to pay $2,760 in sanctions.⁵ The case is active, with a jury trial scheduled for January 19, 2027.

Peter Mikes — Wrongful Termination (Settled)

Peter Mikes filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court in March 2024. The specific allegations were not detailed in publicly available records. A notice of settlement was filed on June 27, 2025, and Mikes dismissed the entire action with prejudice on August 12, 2025.⁶

Robert Schliesmann — Workers’ Compensation

Solar technician Robert Schliesmann filed a workers’ compensation claim against Solar Optimum Design and Electrical alleging an on-the-job injury on August 24, 2020, affecting his lumbar spine, lower extremities, and bilateral feet. An orthopedic evaluator found the injury arose out of and in the course of employment but said the medical record was incomplete and requested additional diagnostic testing.⁷

The case was dismissed in April 2023 for inactivity, then reopened after Schliesmann petitioned in October 2023. A workers’ compensation judge vacated the dismissal in April 2025, finding the employer had an affirmative duty to help gather the requested medical documentation and had failed to do so. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board denied Solar Optimum’s petition for reconsideration in August 2025, letting the claim proceed on the merits.⁷

Miriam Olmedo

A labor and employment lawsuit, Miriam Olmedo v. Solar Optimum, Inc., was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in October 2025. Details of the claims and current status are not available in public records reviewed for this article.⁶

Customer Fraud Suit and Lease Dispute

Customer Vikas Sachar sued Solar Optimum and its affiliate Roofing Optimum, Inc. in Los Angeles County Superior Court in September 2025, alleging promissory fraud and negligent misrepresentation. The case is assigned to Judge Curtis A. Kin, and a tentative ruling was issued in January 2026. The matter remains active.⁸

Solar Optimum has also acted as plaintiff in a contract case. In December 2024, the company sued Armen Vahanyan, who does business as Integral Engineering Consultant and California Solar Group, for breach of a rental or lease contract. After serving Vahanyan by substituted service, Solar Optimum filed a request for entry of default judgment in February 2025. As of March 2025, the court had not entered judgment, and the case remained pending.⁹

Cal/OSHA Safety Citation

In May 2019, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited Solar Optimum for, among other things, improperly moving an aerial device with employees in the basket without surveying the area for overhead obstructions. Solar Optimum appealed. In 2022, the Division sought to amend the citation to allege a different violation, failure to use equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, and an administrative law judge granted the amendment. Solar Optimum challenged that ruling, but the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board denied the company’s petition in August 2022, calling it premature and directing the company to wait until a final hearing decision before seeking further review.¹⁰ The final outcome of the underlying citation is not reflected in available records.

Consumer Complaints

Beyond formal litigation, Solar Optimum has drawn recurring complaints from customers. The Better Business Bureau, where the company is accredited with an A+ rating, lists 19 complaints over the past three years, with 14 closed in the most recent 12-month period. The most common categories are service or repair issues and product issues.¹¹

Several complaints describe installation delays that allegedly caused customers to miss government solar tax credit deadlines, with one customer reporting the loss of an $8,000 credit. Others cite roof leaks caused by improperly sealed penetrations, including one case that allegedly led to toxic mold from water damage. Billing and refund disputes appear repeatedly, with customers alleging months-long delays in receiving refunds for canceled projects or deposits. Of the 19 total complaints, eight were resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction, while 11 received a business response the consumer did not accept or did not confirm as satisfactory.¹¹ The company typically responds by stating it is working to resolve the issue or has forwarded the matter to its operations or insurance teams. Solar Optimum maintains a 25-year performance guarantee and warranty on its installations.¹²

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PACER Monitor. Solar Optimum Incorporated v Elevation Solar LLC
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CaseMine. Solar Optimum Inc v Elevation Solar LLC
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GovInfo. Solar Optimum Incorporated v Elevation Solar LLC
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Trellis Law. Ara Krikorian vs Solar Optimum Inc et al
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UniCourt. Ara Krikorian vs Solar Optimum Inc et al
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UniCourt. Peter Mikes v Solar Optimum Inc
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California DIR WCAB. Robert Schliesmann Panel Decision
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Trellis Law. Vikas Sachar vs Solar Optimum Inc
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PlainSite. Solar Optimum Inc v Armen Vahanyan
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California DIR OSHAB. In the Matter of the Appeal of Solar Optimum
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Better Business Bureau. Solar Optimum BBB Complaints
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Solar Optimum. Solar Optimum Home