ECS Composites Resolves Lawsuits with Grey Ghost for $900,000 Settlement
ECS Composites, a prominent player in the manufacturing of custom protective cases, has successfully settled a series of lawsuits against Grey Ghost and its associates, recouping nearly $900,000 in the process. This significant resolution marks the end of a three-year legal battle involving several claims and countersuits stemming from issues related to former CEO Casey Ingels. The company, owned by Sterling Becklin, is now positioned to move forward confidently after navigating this complex legal landscape.
In March 2025, ECS agreed to a non-confidential settlement totaling $425,000 with Ingels, Grey Ghost, and related entities, which was added to a $458,000 partial judgment secured in an earlier legal action involving Stubborn Mule, another of Becklin's businesses. This settlement fulfilled the objectives of Becklin and his affiliated companies, which include ERA3 and Becklin Land & Cattle.
"I’m very pleased with this outcome," said Sterling Becklin, President of ECS Composites and Chairman of Becklin Holdings. He emphasized that ECS is more than just a business; it's a family dedicated to innovation and quality in manufacturing protective cases, especially for advanced and next-generation defense systems.
The legal disputes originated in early 2020 when ECS hired Ingels as president and CEO. His tenure was marred by accusations that he engaged in wrongful conduct, including misappropriation of company funds. In response to a lawsuit filed by Ingels in Oregon state court, ECS asserted that Ingels, alongside associates from Grey Ghost, had diverted over $2 million in ECS funds and incurred fraudulent expenses. This included unauthorized personal use of company credit cards and the sale of a non-operational armor press.
A separate lawsuit initiated by Stubborn Mule in Idaho sought recovery for amounts due from Grey Ghost Precision for contractual obligations concerning custom-machined gun parts. Grey Ghost Precision countered with its own claims against ECS and Stubborn Mule. Throughout this protracted legal dispute, ECS and Becklin engaged in extensive discovery, exchanging vast amounts of documentation and undergoing numerous depositions.
Ultimately, both parties opted for a settlement that allowed them to dismiss all pending claims, with each side denying any liability for the allegations made. ECS was represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP during these proceedings.
ECS Composites, established in 1954, has evolved significantly from its origins as a supplier of wooden shipping crates. Today, it stands out as a leading innovator in high-performance case manufacturing utilizing advanced materials. Their offerings, such as the Rackmount and Transit Case Solutions, are renowned amongst elite defense and commercial clients for their durability and customization.
The company introduced its revolutionary vacuum-infused process (VIP) line in 2015, which significantly enhanced the durability, lightness, and precision of its products, attracting a robust response from customers and accounting for over 25% of ECS’s business. ECS is the preferred provider for protective cases for various military applications, including VTOL platforms and advanced weaponized UAVs.
As ECS Composites looks toward the future, it continues to explore inventive avenues to integrate cutting-edge technology into its solutions, solidifying its reputation as a premier protector of mission-critical systems and data transfers with its lightweight carbon fiber designs. The resolve of ECS to support the U.S. Department of Defense and other global clients underlines its steadfast dedication to quality and service in some of the most demanding environments. For further information, visit www.ecscomposites.com.
In March 2025, ECS agreed to a non-confidential settlement totaling $425,000 with Ingels, Grey Ghost, and related entities, which was added to a $458,000 partial judgment secured in an earlier legal action involving Stubborn Mule, another of Becklin's businesses. This settlement fulfilled the objectives of Becklin and his affiliated companies, which include ERA3 and Becklin Land & Cattle.
"I’m very pleased with this outcome," said Sterling Becklin, President of ECS Composites and Chairman of Becklin Holdings. He emphasized that ECS is more than just a business; it's a family dedicated to innovation and quality in manufacturing protective cases, especially for advanced and next-generation defense systems.
The legal disputes originated in early 2020 when ECS hired Ingels as president and CEO. His tenure was marred by accusations that he engaged in wrongful conduct, including misappropriation of company funds. In response to a lawsuit filed by Ingels in Oregon state court, ECS asserted that Ingels, alongside associates from Grey Ghost, had diverted over $2 million in ECS funds and incurred fraudulent expenses. This included unauthorized personal use of company credit cards and the sale of a non-operational armor press.
A separate lawsuit initiated by Stubborn Mule in Idaho sought recovery for amounts due from Grey Ghost Precision for contractual obligations concerning custom-machined gun parts. Grey Ghost Precision countered with its own claims against ECS and Stubborn Mule. Throughout this protracted legal dispute, ECS and Becklin engaged in extensive discovery, exchanging vast amounts of documentation and undergoing numerous depositions.
Ultimately, both parties opted for a settlement that allowed them to dismiss all pending claims, with each side denying any liability for the allegations made. ECS was represented by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP during these proceedings.
ECS Composites, established in 1954, has evolved significantly from its origins as a supplier of wooden shipping crates. Today, it stands out as a leading innovator in high-performance case manufacturing utilizing advanced materials. Their offerings, such as the Rackmount and Transit Case Solutions, are renowned amongst elite defense and commercial clients for their durability and customization.
The company introduced its revolutionary vacuum-infused process (VIP) line in 2015, which significantly enhanced the durability, lightness, and precision of its products, attracting a robust response from customers and accounting for over 25% of ECS’s business. ECS is the preferred provider for protective cases for various military applications, including VTOL platforms and advanced weaponized UAVs.
As ECS Composites looks toward the future, it continues to explore inventive avenues to integrate cutting-edge technology into its solutions, solidifying its reputation as a premier protector of mission-critical systems and data transfers with its lightweight carbon fiber designs. The resolve of ECS to support the U.S. Department of Defense and other global clients underlines its steadfast dedication to quality and service in some of the most demanding environments. For further information, visit www.ecscomposites.com.
Topics General Business）
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