Coburn, the former CEO of Cognizant, and Schwartz, the company’s ex-chief legal officer, face accusations of authorizing a $2 million bribe through the construction giant Larsen & Toubro to expedite a permit for a delayed project in Chennai, India. The bribe allegedly involved falsified invoices to cover up the illicit payment. Cognizant previously settled related civil corruption claims with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for $25 million in 2019.
Originally assigned to Judge Kevin McNulty in 2019, the case was initially set to go to trial in September 2020. However, due to the case’s complexity, McNulty granted continuances for additional discovery. The trial was later rescheduled to October 2023, but McNulty’s retirement led to the case being reassigned to Judge Farbiarz.
Further delays occurred when prosecutors struggled to obtain a key witness whose passport was held by Indian authorities. The trial was then postponed in April due to a scheduling conflict involving Schwartz’s attorney. With the new trial date set for March 3, 2025, prosecutors emphasized the necessity of securing seven depositions from India under a mutual legal assistance treaty. They expressed uncertainty about the likelihood of these depositions being completed before the new trial date but noted that additional time could enhance their chances.
