A husband and wife who both held high-ranking positions at John Deere now face a lawsuit by the farm equipment manufacturer for allegedly misappropriating trade secrets. According to the company’s complaint, the couple collected and downloaded confidential materials prior to their departure.
Deere & Company’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Illinois, alleges Seth and Adrian Crawford violated the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and Illinois’ Uniform Trade Secrets Act. The complaint raises several issues that large and small businesses are dealing with across the country, including:
Changes in technology and increased worker turnover can increase the threat of a trade secret falling into the wrong hands. Putting adequate safeguards in place can minimize the risk to your business. If you know or suspect that a problem already exists, it’s advisable to retain an attorney with significant experience in this area.
Schwartz & Kanyock, LLC assists businesses in trade secret litigation and the creation of restrictive covenants. No matter what type of confidential information you seek to protect, we’ll outline measures that can satisfy the pertinent legal standards. To schedule a consultation at our Chicago office, please call 312-436-1442 or contact us online.