$13 Million Jury Verdict in Trade Secrets Case
May 13, 2014OUTCOME: $13 million verdict in favor of client
A jury verdict awarded the firm’s longstanding client more than $13 million in damages via an unjust enrichment ruling, which found that the defendant had increased his wealth at the expense of the pla ... intiff. In 2007, TLD’s client, the plaintiff, retained the defendant to create a proprietary software program to assist in the management of the growing company. After signing a confidentiality agreement, the defendant was given access to the client’s business model for three years. Three months after severing ties, the defendant appeared on television, advertising confidential information obtained during his time working with the plaintiff as his own. Prior to filing legal action, the former vendor was provided with a request to cease his advertising campaign. When he refused to comply, a lawsuit was filed in 2011. After several trial delays, litigation began May 5, 2014. As a result of the jury trial, Roy Jimenez, with attorney Pamela Tahim as second chair, successfully proved the defendant had stolen his client’s trade secrets, leading the jury to award the plaintiff the $13 million verdict – the bankcard merchant’s average annual revenue.