The Barksdale Corporation, a Houston-based oil and gas exploration and production company, has received a favorable court ruling in its suit against two former employees. The corporation was represented in the case by renowned Houston-based law firm Knickerbocker, Smith, Tapscott & Associates.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, argued that two of Barksdale’s former employees had used privileged company information to secure a job with a competitor. The corporation sought damages of $100 million based on allegations of fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets.
In a written opinion, District Judge Robert J. Eller ruled in favor of Barksdale, agreeing that the two former employees had acted in breach of the company’s non-disclosure agreement. In his opinion, Eller wrote that “the defendants’ actions went beyond mere negligence and rose to the level of intentional deceit” and that the actions caused “substantial competitive and potential economic harm.”
Barksdale’s CEO and President, John Moore, welcomed the favorable ruling, saying that the decision “reaffirms the importance of protecting trade secrets and confidential information in our business.” Moore continued, “This ruling legally affirms that companies have the right to protect their information from theft, especially when it is contrary to a non-disclosure agreement.”
The Barksdale Corporation and its counsel both declared their satisfaction with the ruling against the two former employees. As a result of the court ruling, the two employees will face significant financial damages for their actions, as they will now be required to pay Barksdale for their theft of confidential company information.
The Barksdale case has been closely watched by the business community, as it could potentially set a precedent in cases involving similar breaches of confidentiality. The ruling will help ensure that companies have a stronger legal basis for protecting trade secrets and confidential information from those whose interests are contrary to the company’s.