Pacific Coast Building Products Inc. v. Morgan Chivers
Published: Dec. 3, 2002 | Result Date: May 2, 2002 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 7932885 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
Alameda Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Paul W. Vapnek
(technical)
David M. Ploense
(technical)
Charles J. Peterson
(technical)
Gary Hunter
(technical)
David L. Douglass
(technical)
Defendant
Satish Almaula
(technical)
Phillip H. Allman III, Ph.D.
(technical)
William Wigert
(technical)
Facts
In 1977, the plaintiff hired the defendant, a former employee, as a manager of one of its divisions. In 1994, while
still employed by the plaintiff, the defendant invented a process to recycle asphalt shingles. The defendant
resigned in February of 1995 and thereafter applied for a patent for the process he had invented. In May of
1997, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued him with a patent.
The plaintiff instituted the suit on the basis that the defendant had violated an employee
confidentiality agreement and the Uniform Trade Secret Act (UTSA) as set forth in Civil Code
Section 3426, et seq.).
Damages
The plaintiff/respondent and the defendant/cross-complainant maintained a claim for declaratory relief and requested a determination regarding the ownership of the patent for the process. The cross-complainant sought in excess of $350 million in damages on his counterclaim.
Other Information
The court granted the plaintiff/cross-defendantÆs directed verdict motions following the close of evidence disposing of the defendantÆs cross-complaint.
Deliberation
two days
Length
25 days
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