Eaton Corporation v. Frisby

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The Circuit Court imposed a joint and several monetary sanction for "intentional discovery violations" against Eaton Corporation, its Mississippi attorney, Michael Allred, and two Wisconsin attorneys for Eaton, Michael H. Schaalman and Gregory T. Everts. The circuit court also dismissed with prejudice all of Eaton's claims against Frisby Aerospace and related parties, for "improper ex parte and fraudulent contacts" between attorney Ed Peters and then-presiding Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter. Eaton and Allred appealed the monetary sanction. Eaton also appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit against Frisby. The matter stemmed from a 2004 lawsuit in which Eaton Corporation (Eaton), represented by Allred, alleged six engineers formerly employed by Eaton and subsequently hired by Frisby in 2001 had stolen proprietary information and trade secrets from Eaton. Frisby filed a countersuit against Eaton, alleging, inter alia, defamation. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court's imposition of monetary sanctions for discovery abuses and its decision to dismiss Eaton's claims against Frisby. View "Eaton Corporation v. Frisby" on Justia Law