Publication: Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter Published: 2/9/2007

(YY 17/5) BUSINESS--FORMER SALES MANAGER VIOLATED ILLINOIS TRADE SECRETS ACT (16E)

Screen Works Ltd. v Franklin Moore, Moore & Moore Sales LLC 00CH-16778 Tried Jun. 7-16, 2006

Verdict: $391,158 v both defts

Judge: Dennis J. Burke (IL Cook-Law)

Pltf Atty(s): Michael D. Robbins of Michael D. Robbins & Associates and Jeffrey H. Bunn of Weinberg Richmond LLP

Deft Atty(s): Richard J. Hickey and Christopher R. Zink of Hickey, Melia & Associates for both defts Pltf Screen Works is a manufacturer of projection screens, and deft Franklin Moore was a former national sales manager for Screen Works. While employed by pltf, Moore was principally responsible for conducting a search for a new source of rear projection screen material in the early 1990's. After considerable effort, Screen Works ultimately discovered a distributor who represented a low cost foreign manufacturer of rear projection screen material. Pltf claimed the identity of the alternative source of low cost rear projection screen material, coupled with the knowledge that the foreign company was capable of manufacturing the specialty product, was a trade secret. Screen Works maintained this discovery gave it a significant competitive advantage in its manufacturing production and also enabled it to initiate a new business through the resale of bulk quantities of rear projection screen material. Pltf contended that after Moore was terminated in 1997, he negotiated to sell the identity of pltf's low cost manufacturer to pltf's customer, and then began selling rear projection screen material purchased from pltf's manufacturer to two bulk screen customers of pltf Screen Works, all in violation of the Illinois Trade Secrets Act.

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