 But while First Solar officials downplayed the extent of the problem, some of them dumped personally-held stock, according to court records. Mark Ahern, the company's founder and chairman alone, sold off more than $427 million in shares before the extent of the defect was made public and the stock tumbled. The ordeal ultimately cost the company $260 million to fix. Prunica, the First Solar spokesman, said the company settled a case to focus on driving the business forward, and it goes on!