Law Firm
10,000 Lakes and . . . No Noncompetitive? Minnesota Passes Law Banning Non-Competes Effective July 1, 2023
As expected, on May 24, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed a new law banning noncompete agreement in Minnesota. The ban will be effective for such agreements entered on or after July 1, 2023. By enacting the Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor and Industry appropriations bill (MN SF 30035), Minnesota becomes only the fourth state (along […]
Ohio Appellate Court Holds Logistics Company was Improperly Limited to Half a Remedy, Reviving Noncompete Suit Against a Former Employee
The day after obtaining federal brokerage authority for the logistics company he formed a month earlier, Christopher Johnson, a North Carolina resident, resigned from his employment with Cincinnati-based Total Quality Logistics, LLC (“TQL”). TQL then sued Johnson and his company Patriot Logistics (“Patriot”) in the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas, alleging Johnson breached his […]
Restrictive Covenants in the First Circuit
To continue our series on trade secret employee contract clauses, we’ve surveyed the First Circuit for updates to the law relating to restrictive covenants. Such covenants remain predominantly governed by statutes in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, while Puerto Rico continues to govern them by common law. And with no significant updates since […]
No Non-Compete? No Problem. Texas Court Grants TRO Forcing Former Employees to Stop Working for Competing Business.
Restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements have been a frequent topic of this blog in recent months, and rightly so. Non-competitors are generally thought to be effective tools to help firms protect trade secrets and competitive advantages. However, these agreements are falling out of favor across the country – the DOJ recently files a Statement of […]
What the DOJ Annual Reports Reveal About Federal Trade Secret and IP Protection Efforts
Every year since 2009, the United State Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has published a report that details the actions the DOJ has taken to implement Title IV of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (“PRO IP Act”) . The PRO IP Act reports also summarizes efforts, activities, and resources that […]
NBA Star Zion Williamson Secures Wins on the Basketball Court and in the Courtroom, After Defeating Claims of Trade Secret Misappropriation
NBA star Zion Williamson has more to celebrate than his recently announced five-year maximum rookie contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans, worth up to $239 million. Williamson was also victorious in a lawsuit he filed against his former agent Gina Ford, and her agency Prime Sports Marketing LLC (“Prime Sports”). The case is Williamson […]
The Defend Trade Secrets Act and How it Differs from State Trade Secret Laws
The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) was enacted in 2016. The DTSA allows an owner of a trade secret to sue in federal court when seeking relief for trade secret misappropriation related to a product or service in interstate or foreign commerce, and does not preempt any state law. A goal of the DTSA is […]
Trade Secrets Food Fight Spotlights Importance of Comprehensive Agreements
A judge in the Northern District of Texas recently declined to dismiss a lawsuit, CiCi Enterprises LP et al. v. Mucho Pizza, LLC et al., alleging a pizza franchisee failed to maintain the confidentiality of Texas pizza chain CiCi Enterprises LP’s trade secrets after two affiliates inked a development deal with competitor, Papa John’s. This […]
Pinkerton Tobacco v. Kretek Int’l: Defendant’s Statute of Limitations Argument Goes Up in Smoke
A Central District of California court recently denied a defendant’s motion for summary judgment where the defendant argued that the plaintiff’s claims for trade secret misappropriation were barred by the applicable statute of limitations. The court determined that the statute of limitations did not bar the plaintiff’s claim because a reasonable jury could find that […]
The Royal Jewelers of Italy: A History of Craftsmanship and Innovation
Italy has long been synonymous with artistry, sophistication, and a rich cultural heritage, particularly in the world of fine jewelry. The country’s jewelers have gained global recognition for their meticulous craftsmanship, innovation, and ability to blend timeless tradition with modern design. One of the most significant areas where Italian jewelers have excelled is in the […]