Attorneys Accused of Stealing Data From Firm to Face New Trial

摘要

Attorneys who allegedly copied asbestos and talc-related information from their old firm and used it for their new law firm must face a new trial for unfair or deceptive trade practices, the highest court of Massachusetts ruled. Superior Court Justice Kenneth W. Salinger told the jury anything that happened before the attorneys' last day of employment at Governo Law Firm LLC, including the alleged copying of materials, was "irrelevant" for the purposes of the firm's claim. But their employment doesn't shield them from liability under state law, according to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Had the jury considered the attorneys' conduct during their employment, it might have found them liable for unfair or deceptive trade practices, the court said April 9. This different result could have made Governo eligible for attorneys' fees or more in damages, according to the ruling. The attorneys allegedly downloaded materials from their Governo computers onto thumb drives and later uploaded the materials to a different computer. The materials included a research library, databases, and administrative files, according to court filings.