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If you want to pursue a trade secrets claim in the Business Court, you’ve got to disclose the details of your trade secret.  The Opinion last week in Unimin Corp. v. Gallo, 2014 NCBC 43 illustrates that point in detail. 

It seems at first blush like a case made for a preliminary injunction for the misappropriation of trade secrets, which is what the Plaintiff Unimin sought.  The individual Defendant, Gallo,  had been Unimin’s General Manager of Research and Development.

Gallo had accepted a position with one of Plaintiff’s competitors…

Continue Reading Trade Secrets Claims Can Be Tough To Succeed On In The Business Court

I’ve written before about trade secrets claims being dismissed by the Business Court and the NC Court of Appeals because the trade secrets were too broadly referenced and not described with “sufficient particularity".  Two of those cases are Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. v. Rogers, 2011 NCBC 41; and Washburn v. Yadkin Valley Bank and Trust Co. 190 N.C. App. 315, 660 S.E.2d 577 (2008).

And just yesterday came yet another Rule 12 dismissal of an inadequately pleaded trade secrets claim. Judge Jolly of the Business Court shot…

Continue Reading Don’t Keep Your Trade Secrets Secret If You Are Pursuing A Trade Secrets Claim In The Business Court

An award of damages for breach of a noncompete agreement, like any other damages award, requires evidentiary support.  In a judgment issued yesterday after a bench trial, the Business Court awarded the plaintiffs nominal damages absent such evidence.

In HILB Rogal & Hobbs Co. v. Sellars, the Court faced a common factual scenario:  a former vice president of the plaintiffs resigned and went to work for a direct competitor.  The businesses in question were insurance companies targeting building materials suppliers.  The plaintiff and defendant executed an employment agreement that contained standard restrictions…

Continue Reading Business Court Awards Nominal Damages After Noncompete Bench Trial