Wonderware of Irvine Will Take $1.9-Million Charge to Settle Dispute

IRVINE — Wonderware Corp. said Friday that it will take a $1.9-million charge this year to settle a legal dispute with two founders of a Cupertino-based company that Wonderware acquired two years ago.

Wonderware said the charge includes attorney’s fees and related costs, and will be taken during the third quarter of this year. The software company wouldn’t comment further on terms of the settlement.

The Irvine company filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court in July 1996 against Constantin S. Delivanis and Vladimir Preysman, the founders of EnaTec Software Systems Inc., a technology developer that Wonderware acquired in 1995. The founders joined Wonderware after the acquisition but were later dismissed.

In the suit, Wonderware accused the pair of a number of things, including negligent misrepresentation, securities fraud and breach of contract. Sources said the pair had been blamed for delays in the release of InTrack, a program that tracks and manages production.

The two employees filed a cross complaint alleging, among other things, breach of contract and infliction of emotional distress.

Wonderware stock dropped 69 cents Friday to $17.81 a share in Nasdaq trading.