Automattic's response
Automattic responded to the lawsuit by dismissing WP Engine's claims as "meritless." The company's legal representative, Neal Katyal, stated that he had read WP Engine's complaint and found no merit to its claims.
Severance package
The latest development in the dispute is the announcement by Automattic that 159 employees, representing approximately 8.4% of the company's staff, have accepted a severance package offered by the company. The severance package provides employees with either $30,000 or six months of salary, whichever is higher, but the employees who take the package will not be eligible to be re-hired by Automattic.