AMSTERDAM -- Lawyers for Carlos Ghosn argued in a Dutch court on Monday for the release of internal documents relating to his dismissal by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.
Ghosn has launched a court case in the Netherlands against the Japanese automakers in July, arguing that his firing was unlawful.
The former chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance was arrested in Japan in 2018 but fled to Lebanon in December.
Monday's hearing at the Amsterdam District Court was the first public session in the case.
Ghosn is seeking 15 million euros ($17 million) in damages from the automakers, which he says violated Dutch labor laws.
"Nissan and Mitsubishi publicly shamed Ghosn," attorney lawyer Roeland de Mol told the court. "Their reports and accusations were never put to Ghosn. There was no due process."
De Mol said Ghosn wants "a full debate on the reasons of Ghosn's dismissal. We need the information in his file to be able to do that. Mr. Ghosn is ready for a fight."
Ghosn is seeking access to documents relating to internal Nissan and Mitsubishi investigations, which the automakers used to substantiate his dismissal on allegations of financial misconduct.
His defense team has argued that the documents will show the companies were aware of Ghosn's activities.
Ghosn's lawyers claim he was unfairly dismissed as chairman of Nissan-Mitsubishi BV, a Dutch-registered entity, because the details of the allegations were not shared with him.
Lawyer Eelco Meerdink, representing Nissan-Mitsubishi, said Ghosn's legal team was "going on a fishing expedition."
"Their requests are very broad. And it can be no surprise that there are many reasons why we cannot agree to them," he said.
