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Williams Kastner Secures Defense Jury Verdict   

Seattle, WA. (4/17/08) - Williams Kastner secured a defense jury verdict for its client today in a business litigation case involving claims of a) misappropriation of trade secrets and b) tortious interference with business relationship or expectancy. The case was MP Medical, Inc. v. Philip Wegman, Warren and Ruth Ann Hall and Halls Drug Center, Inc.,  King County Superior Court, Cause No. 06-2-25495-3, Seattle Courthouse and Judge Julie Spector presided.  After a 10 day jury trial in King County Superior Court presented by Williams Kastner attorneys, Arley Harrel and Jake Downs, a unanimous verdict was returned in favor of the defendants. The Judge had previously dismissed on summary judgment a non-competition agreement ruled unenforceable under California law.   
 
The plaintiff, MP Medical, Inc., claimed that the defendants, Philip Wegman, Warren and Ruth Ann Hall and Halls Drug Center, Inc., had misappropriated trade secrets by diverting a client list from the plaintiff to the defendants via a former employee.  The case is unusual in that trade secret disputes rarely see jury trials in King County.  The jury restricted the definition of a trade secret by ruling that the disputed client list was not a trade secret.  The verdict enforces competition in the medical goods market--a victory for consumers.