Maslanka
SHERMAN - A Plano transportation services company has filed a lawsuit against several former employees, accusing them of misappropriation of confidential information and and unfair competition.
Bear Transportation Services filed suit against Anna Aston, Alex Hansen, Chris Perry, Jack Woolverton and GTO 2000 Inc. on April 13, 2011. The defendant removed the case to the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division on Feb. 13.
Defendants Aston, Hansen, Perry and Woolverton were employed as transportation brokers for Bear Transportation Services. Each of Bear's employees had to sign various agreements regarding their access to, use and re-use of confidential information.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants voluntarily terminated their employment with Bear Transportation and executed an Exit Agreement which acknowledged their common law duties to their former employer.
Bear states that it recently learned that its former employees are employed by defendant GTO 2000 and are actively competing in violation of their Employment Agreements.
According to its website, Gainesville, Ga., based GTO 2000's primary services include a full range of transportation management services.
The defendants are sued for violating their contractual duties, breach of contract, breaching their fiduciary duties, misappropriation and converting Bear's confidential information and clients, tortuously interfering with Bear's prospective contractual and business relations, defamation and civil conspiracy.
The plaintiff is asking the court to issue an injunction to prohibit the defendants from soliciting, calling upon or accepting business from any Bear customer or prospective customer; to enjoin the defendants from selling or providing brokerage, logistics or asset based transportation services to any Bear customer or prospective customer; and to prohibit the defendants from revealing or disclosing any of Bear's information or records.
The lawsuit is also asking for an award of damages, attorney's fees, interest and court costs.
Bear Transportation is represented by Michael P. Maslanka, G. Edel Cuadra and William E. Hammel of Constangy, Brooks & Smith in Dallas.
Case No. 4:12-cv-00079