Trade secret misappropriationA recently filed trade secret misappropriation lawsuit in the Michigan Eastern District Federal Court is a good reminder for both employers and individuals about the dangers stemming from not protecting or wrongfully using confidential or trade secret information.

Going Deeper:

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Van Dyke Horn LLC, a public relations company.

Employee Computer HackingOn June 3, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that significantly limits the “exceeds authorized access” clause of the Federal anti-hacking statute called the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 (CFAA). Here is a copy of the opinion (Van Buren v U.S.)

Why the CFAA Opinion Matters:

Without proper planning, this ruling

A former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, Michael Bolsinger, sued the Houston Astros for trade secret misappropriation. He claims the Astros violated Texas trade secret law by stealing his team’s pitching signs in an August 2017 game.

Why it matters:

As an attorney who has handled trade secret matters for almost 20 years, this lawsuit is

Trade Secret RisksNephron Pharmaceutical Corp. agreed to accept $7.9 million to settle its trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against its competitor U.S. Compounding Inc., its parent company Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp., and former employees.

Why it Matters: 

For the defendant businesses, the case arose from actions that every company routinely faces – hiring employees. But the competitors

Trade Secret MisappropriationTesla sued a former engineer for trade secret misappropriation on January 21, 2021. It obtained an ex parte temporary restraining order the next day.

Why it matters:

In our experience representing clients in pursuing and defending against these kinds of claims, this case is a good reminder for companies and former employees about the importance

Strengtening trade secret protectionsA company’s Federal Trade Secret Claim and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act claim were recently dismissed by a Michigan federal district judge. The dismissal was avoidable. But it also offers several key lessons for employers and employees when it comes to protecting and using confidential information.

The Trade Secret and Computer Fraud Litigation

The case,