Litigation

Missouri Computer Fraud Claim is Dismissed for Improper Pleading

By H. William Allen et al.

Two employees accessed computer files of their employer, and they later set up their own competing firm. This was the situation in Lasco Foods, Inc. v. Hall and Shaw Sales, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4241 (E.D. Mo. Jan. 22, 2009).

The former employer brought a number of claims, including violations of the Stored Wire and Electronic Communications Act, as well as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The gist of the argument was that the defendants exceeded their authorized access to Lasco's computer system. However, Lasco failed to allege that the former employees exceeded their authorized access. The court dismissed both claims.

Full post as published by Arkansas Business Litigation Blog on February 16, 2009 (boomark / email).