JACKSONVILLE – A propane gas retailer alleges that a former employee breached his employment agreement by attempting to divert its business customers in his territory.
Ferrellgas Inc. filed a complaint on May 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division against Martin Wesley Wood Jr. and Hometown Gas Inc. citing breach of duty of loyalty, breach of employee agreement, misappropriation of trade secrets and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that it has incurred substantial material damage in an amount to be determined at trial. The plaintiff holds Martin Wesley Wood Jr. and Hometown Gas Inc. responsible because the defendant Wood allegedly diverted business away from the plaintiff during his employment, solicited and served its customers and/or suppliers, improperly used its proprietary trade secret information and entered into a secret agreement with a competitor in Madison County.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks injunctive relief of more than $75,000, plus interest; attorney's fees and costs; permanent injunction enjoining, restraining and prohibiting Wood from violating his employee agreement; compensation for unjust enrichment damages; attorneys' fees, prejudgment and post-judgment interest; and such other and further relief as the court may deem appropriate. It is represented by Benjamin D. Sharkey and Colin A. Thakkar of Jackson Lewis PC in Jacksonville.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division Case number 3:16-cv-00563