Business Torts
Vercruysse Murray & Calzone has an active practice in prosecuting and defending business tort claims, including:
- bad faith contract claims
- breach of the duty of loyalty
- breach of fiduciary duties
- business defamation
- fraud and misrepresentation
- securities claims
- tortious interference with contractual or business relationships
- unfair competition
Misappropriation of Confidential Information
In addition, we frequently litigate claims that involve the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information. With the technological revolution of the past decade, including an ever-increasing reliance on electronic data, networking, and the Internet, it has become increasingly difficult to protect those intangible assets that are often the most valuable to a company.
These assets can include, but are certainly not limited to, customer lists and information, product information, information regarding costs, profits and other financial information, and information concerning product development and manufacturing processes. Threats to these assets include industrial espionage by competitors, computer hackers, and disloyal employees seeking personal profit. Upon learning of an actual or threatened misappropriation, it is imperative that a company acts immediately to investigate the scope of the loss and to seek judicial intervention.
Our attorneys have broad experience in helping companies conduct an investigation, including the hiring and use of computer forensic experts. Our attorneys are also experienced in obtaining temporary and preliminary injunctive relief to prevent further use and disclosure of misappropriated information, and they have aggressively prosecuted actions for damages.
Contributing to Business Tort Law
Mr. Vercruysse and Mr. Murray were contributors to The Handbook of Fraud Deterrence (2007).