PRACTICE AREA : Trial & Litigation

Trade Secrets Litigation : Representative Cases

Software Company vs. Individual and High Tech Employer

This case involved the alleged possession, use and disclosure of confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets of a software company. A software engineer left the company and went to work for a competitor. The company filed suit and obtained a temporary restraining order. Later, the company successfully defeated defendants’ motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order.

After a significant amount of discovery, the case was settled shortly before the scheduled hearing on the permanent injunction, with a permanent injunction being entered against the software engineer. The software engineer was required to return or destroy documents of the company, return all of his shares of stock in the company, and repay a portion of the cash he received as a severance package from the company.

Michael Klein and Lisa Michaux Magids were the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs.

Large University vs. Individuals and High Tech Companies

This case involved the alleged possession, use and disclosure of confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets of a large university and a national cattlemen’s association. The case was settled before extensive discovery took place.

Michael Klein was the attorney for one of the defendants.

High Tech Company vs. Individual and High Tech Employer

This was a case involving alleged possession, use and disclosure of trade secrets and confidential information. The technical manager for the plaintiff resigned and went to work for another high tech company. Plaintiff filed suit against the departing employee and obtained a temporary restraining order preventing him from performing work on behalf of his new employer in connection with any product that competed with any of plaintiff’s products. The departing employee filed a motion to modify the temporary restraining order, which was granted. The new employer was later added as a defendant in the lawsuit. After a significant amount of discovery, the case was settled.

Michael Klein and Lisa Michaux Magids were two of the attorneys for the defendants.

Chip Manufacturer vs. High Tech Company and Individual

This was a case involving alleged inevitable and probable disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets of a chip manufacturer. An employee of the chip manufacturer left the company and went to work for another high tech company. The suit alleged that, at his new employment, the individual would inevitably or probably disclose confidential and proprietary processes of the chip manufacturer. The case was settled before extensive discovery took place.

Michael Klein and Lisa Michaux Magids were members of the team attorneys representing the chip manufacturer, and Michael Klein was the partner in charge of discovery.

Chip Manufacturer vs. Chip Manufacturer and Individual

This case involved alleged disclosure of trade secrets through inevitable and probable disclosure. A chip manufacturer hired numerous engineers from another chip manufacturer to work at a new design center. The case was settled before significant discovery was undertaken, and the entire record was sealed.

Michael Klein was a member of the team of attorneys representing the plaintiff, and was the partner in charge of discovery.

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