Shire LLC v. Mickle et al

Filing 161

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 8/2/2011. (eot)

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I TH E U NI N TED STA TES D I STR I T C O U RT C FO R TH E W E STERN DI STR I O F V I G I A CT R NI R O AN O K E D I ISIO N V SH I E LLC , R C i lA c i n N o.7: c 00434 vi t o 10- vPl ntff ai i , V. M EM O R AND U M O PI I N N O TR AVIS C .M ICK LE ,etaI . By:Sam uelG .W is lon U nied St es D itri Judge t at s ct Def endant s. Thi i adi st a to byShieLLC (t r' , s i ar ofa i enai l s s veriy cin r 'Shie' a ubsdi y n ntr tona ) phama utc lcompa a i tdee nt Ke r ce ia ny, gans fnda s mpham,l (û mPham') as l e ry r nc.AKe r ', mal al p s bi r ac utca c pa a Tr vi M i kl K e pha m ' pr i nt alegi t t ha e opha m e i l om ny, nd a s c e, m r s es de , l ng ha M i kl br c a e pl e ag e m e ,tve as i e a e m e s a a s tl m e c e ea hed n m oym nt r e nt i s gnm nt gr e nt , nd e te nt a e m e be wee Shi e a M i e a t tK e pha t tous y i e f r w ih t s gr e nt t n r nd ckl , nd ha m nu or i l nt r e ed t he e a e m e s Thi m a t ri c r nty be or t c r o M i kl ' a K e pha m ' m oton unde gr e nt . s te s ur e l f e he ou t n c e s nd m r s i r F d rl l o Cii Pr c d r 1 ()f raj d me to t epla i st a t a r e n s e ea Ru e f v l o e u e 2 c o u g n n h e dng h the g e me t c ai i ld a une or e bl r sr c i c nan s Eve a s i t tt c l nge ont n nva i nd nf c a e e t i tve ove t . n s um ng ha he hale d p o s onscons iut r t i tve co r vi i tt e esr c i vena s t co tfndst ti c no e ua e t r v i t nt , he ur i ha t an t val t hei aldiy wihou a m o e f l de ope f t lr c d. A c or ngl t c t est m oto t t r uly vel d ac ua e or c di y, he our deni he i n. 1. I eary 2001,M i e ent n l ckl ered i o an em pl entagr entw ih Lot Bi nt oym eem t us ochem i cal Coporton(t t ',andhebeg wor ngf Lot a as ni r eac sints. w Ri r r ai $ us' Lo ) an ki or us s e or es rh ce itNe ve Phama e ial,l (t ',i as ce s i itrs t Lous a Shiei as e s i r c utc s nc.t NRP') s uc sor n nee t o t , nd r s ucc sor n i e e tt xRP.lshiec am st tM ikl br a dt e pr sonsofhi e o e nt r s o r l i ha c e e che hr e ovii s mpl ym nt agreem ent. The fr tpr s on a i s pa a a 4,i en il d (ow ne s p ofM a e i s'a i s ovi i t s ue, r gr ph s tte ç r hi t ral ' nd pr vi s i pa t o de n r : Al doc nt,digrms f multons rc ds cuso rlss Dicovei (s l ume s a a , or ai , e or , tme it, s res a d tn d i S ci n 7 hee g, e up n, a d oh r i ms p o ie b te ei e n e to ro q ime t n te t e r vd d y h Compa and hed i t pos es i of Empl e,a ot r m a e i s i a ny l n he s son oye nd he t ral, n ny f onn, whi h i a wa r l t t t Compa s pas, pr e or potnta c n ny y e ae o he ny' t es nt e il bus ne s and whi h w e e pr pa e or r ce ve by t Em pl e i t cour e of i s c r e rd e i d he oye n he s t Em pl he oyee' e pl en a e t e us ve p o ry oft Com pa s m oym t r he xcl i r pe t he ny. ( oyme Agre nt!4. Thes c pr sona is pa a a 6,i entted Empl nt e me ) e ond ovii t sue, r grph s il icont d ntalI or a i 'a pr desi par ' t ' e i nf m ton' nd ovi n t i . Em pl e A g e s t t a a1 tm e whie e pl d by t Em pl oye r e ha t 1 i s l m oye he oyer a nd t r fe ,Empl he ea tr oyeewilno us f Empl e' own pe s l t e or oye s r onalbe ftorf t ne i or he be ft of o he s or di c os t a ot r pe s c por to or o he e iy f ne i t r s l e o ny he r on, or a i n t r ntt or a r s n a oft Confde i ll o maton,wihoutt prorwrte c e ny ea o ny he i nta nf r i t he i itn ons nt oft Boa d ofD ie t s oft Com pa ( he r r c or he ny. t i en i l onna i ' us d i conf d tal nf ton' as e n t i Ag e me t wil n ld :( )ti Ag e me ta da1 r viin h r o ,()al hs re n , l i cu e 1 h s re n n 1 p o so s ee f 2 l i or a i ac r by Em pl e f om t Com pa is s ppler ,a r i e s nf m ton quied oye r he ny, t u i s dve ts r , c t e s or ot r dur ng Em pl ee' e pl e whi h r a e t t us om r , he s i oy s m oym nt c el t s o he Co pa spa t pr s ntorpo e ilbusne s s h a pr n s tl ,pe s m ny' s, e e t nta i s , uc s ogr m , ies r onne l i onnai Dic re (s defne i Se ton 7 hee t t e e not nf ton, s oveis a i d n ci rog o he xtnt di c os d t t publc by t Com pa y . . . de i doc e s t hni l s l e o he i he n s gn um nt , ec ca i onma i o m a e i l . . . a w e l a t Com pa s pa t pr ent o f tr nf ton r t r a s l s he ny' s , es r utle r s r h and de l e . .. e ea c ve opm nt . (d. 6. Thefna c ese pr sonofM ikl sempl nta e nt paag a 7,s I ! ) i l ont td ovii c e' oyme greme , r r ph i e il SDi co res' pr desi pa t ntted ' s ve i ' and ovi n r : A l D i c r e a e t e us ve pr r y of t Com pa and Em pl 1 s ove i s r he xcl i ope t he ny, oyee w il l pr pty and f l di c os t m t t Com pa om l uly s l e he o he ny. A s us d he e n, t t r e r i he e m ( i c r e ' m e a 1di cove i , i ntons i pr m e s pr es es i as r s ove i s ' ans 1 s res nve i , m ove nt , oc s , de a nn es i a f nd m n ny onn,whet r ornotpa e a e orco r ght bl ... wel a he t nt bl py i a e as l s al l elcua Prpe t ( detne heen) whi rlt t orar us ult t l ntle t l o ry as i d ri , ch eae o e ef o he Com pany' busi s nessw hi Em pl ch oyee al or w ih ot one t hers m ay i nvent di , scover , m ake or concei w het t Com pany' f ltes ar used or not . . . . ve her he s aciii e Sl e l c ua Pr r y' m e ns a 1 c r nta f ur w ordw i pa e s a ot tnt le t l ope t ' a l ur e nd ut e l de t nt nd her 1shie plr ha e NRP i 2007. r zc s d n pae rght,i ntons c i ht ,tade s r t,ta m a ks know- w,utlt tnt i s nve i , opyrg s r ec es r de r , ho iiy mode s a o he i a bl pr prea y rght,i l ng,wiho lm iai al l nd t r nt ngi e o itr i s ncudi t ut i tton, 1 a i a i a r s r tons w ih r pe tt r t Ata tm e,a t Com pa s pplc tons nd egit a i t es c he e o. ny i t he ny' r que ta ex ns Empl e wil wihoutfrhe compe ai ()prmpty e s nd pe e, oye l, t ut r nston i o l r c r s c Dic v re '(i e e u ea y a sg me t a d ohe d cl n sta e o d u h s o eis i x c t n sin n s n t r o l t h t , ) me t Co ny dee desrbl t pr e tis rght i t dic re 'a (i) he mpa ms ia e o otc t i s n he s oveis nd ii , a ss t Com pa i e o cng is rg s wih r pe t t t s Dic re . s it he ny n nf r i t i ht t es c o he e s ove i s The e oblga i w ils v ve t r na i n ofe pl m e . s i tons l ur i e mi to m oy nt (d !7.Th e ly n a re n e p e syp o i e t t ikl' o lg to su d r I . ) e mpo me t g e me t x rsl r v d s ha M c es bi ai n n e paa a 4,6,a 7s vvet tr nainofM ikl se oyme .(d. 1 g)) rgrphs nd ur i he emi to c e' mpl nt I ! 4( . W hie a N RP,M i kl a s a i d f s ve a pa e st tr ule f om hi w or f t l t c e l o pple or e r l t nt ha es t d r s k or he com pa I c ny. n onne ton w ih t s pa e a i a i , i kl e c ed fve as i e ci t he e t nt pplc tons M c e xe ut i sgnm nt a e m e s a s gni hi i e es s i t e pa e st N RP. Thos a s gnm en ag ee e s gr e nt s i ng s nt r t n hos t nt o e si t r m nt pr de i pa t ovi , n r : g j doherbys l,a sgna tanse unt s i ASSI W e e el s i nd r fr o ad GNEE ... e ierghttte our ntr i ,il a i e es i a t oug utt Unie St t ofAm e i ...a a1 coun resf e g nd nt r t n nd hr ho he t d aes rca nd 1 ti or i n t r o a t s d i pr m e s s d Unie St t sa i to a ot Unie St t s he et nd o ai m ove nt , ai t d a e pplca i n, ny her t d a e a ia i ,i l ng pr sona,di so ,r ne l s tt e, tnuai n, pplc tons nc udi ovii l vii nal e wa , ubsiut con i to r e mi to a r is a ia i ,ba e i whol ori pm'on s i Unie St t e xa nai n nd e s ue pplc tons s d n e n t a d t d aes a i a i ori w hol ori pa ' on s d i pr m e s a f ei a i a i , pplc ton n e n l t ai m ove nt , ny or gn pplc tons i udi i e a i la r gi la i tons ba ed i w hol or i pa ton a oft ncl ng nt m tona nd e ona pplca i , s n e n r ny he af es d Unied St t sa i tonsori w hol ori pa ton s i i pr m e s a i or ai t a e pplca i n e n r a d m ove nt , nd n a t a a a ll ter pat nt i l ng e e i t r , a c m t y whi h ha nd o ny nd 1 e t s e , nc udi xt ns ons he eof of ny ot r c ve be n orm a be g a t o a oft af r ai a i a i oron s d i pr ve e sor e y r n ed n ny he o es d pplc tons ai m o m nt a pa t t r of.. ny r s he e ( . Mo .o J o t Pla i g , 2 6(ç sg me t re n sl. S iecamsM ike L P1' tf r . n he e d n s Ex. - d in n Ag e me t' ) h r li s As cl @ br a he t e pr vi i by de l ng ne i elec ua pr r y ba e on t as i d pa e t E e c d hes o s ons ve opi w nt l t l ope t s d he s gne t n s g ! a t he l t RP,a as i ni hi i e e t i t e ne pa e st hi ne c pa fer ef N nd s g ng s nt r s s n hos w t nt o s w om ny, K e phar ,i ead ofN RP. m m nst l 2005,M i e l tN lp and ent ed i o a s tem entagr entw ih t com pany. n ckl ef t er nt etl eem t he Tha ag ee e r ie a e t tM i kl s oblga i unde ce t n pr s ons oft e pl e t t r m nt e t r t s ha c e' i tons r rai ovi i he m oym n a e m e t i udi pa a a 4,6,a 7, ur ve hi t r i ton. Shie alege t tM i kl s : gr e n , ncl ng r gr phs nd s vi s e m na i r l s ha c e' br a hesofpa ag a 4,6,a 7 oft empl e a ee nta s c tt ebr a so t ec r r phs nd he oym nt gr me lo onsiut e che f he s tem entagreem ent etl . II. M ik ea dKe am h v mo df r u g n o t pe dn p ru n t Rue c l n mph r a e ve o j d me t n he la igs u s a t o l 1 c , r ui t tt r e tc rc pr viinsc ttt f ilyt nf c a ersrci 2() a g ng ha he elvan onta t o so onsiue acal me or e bl e titve c nan sund Vi gi a l w . A s um i a guen t tt e pr s ons a e pr r y ove t er r ni a s ng, r do, ha hes ovi i r ope l c i r d t be r s r c i c ons de e o e ti tve ovena s t c tfndst td t r i ng w he he t y a e nt , he our i ha e e m ni t r he r l e s na e r s rc i a t r or u nf r e bl r quiesa m o e f ly de ope f c ua mr a o bl e t i tons nd he ef e ne o c a e e r r u l vel d a t l r c d. Cons que l t c t ni M i kl sm o i e or e nty, he our de es c e' ton. ç amoin fr u g nt ntepla igsma epzs a tt Ru e1 () o l t e t on to o j d me o h e dn d l u n o l 2 c , ny h r pl a ngsa e c i r ' A . A be lCo. Ba t Tv r c U ni N o.1 338 F. 1 e di r ons de ed,' S. l v. l. pog aphi al on 2, 2d 90, 1 ( hCi.1 ,a t c tmus daw a1ras bl fcua i ee si fvo oft 93 4t r 964) nd he our t r 1 e ona e a t lnfrnce n a r he nonmo ngpat Se Edwadsv.CiyofGol boo,1 F. 231 243- (t Ci.1 vi ry. e r t ds r 78 3d , 44 4h r 999) (ppl ngt smesandadi r viwi aRul 1 c motona iwoul aRul 1 b)6 a yi he a t r n e e ng e 2() i s t d e 2( ( ) moto .Unde Vigi al ilqnon-ompeii a e me tbewee a e oye a a in) r r ni aw,da c tton gre n t n n mpl r nd n empl ewilbeenf c i t ontac i na r y d a opr e tt e oye ' l tmat oye l or ed f hec r t s rowl r wnt otc he mpl rs egii e ' bus ne s i e e t i notundul b de om e on t e pl e' abiiy t ea n a lvi a i not j i s nt r s , s y ur ns he m oye s lt o r i ng, nd s ! ! aga ns publcpolc ' O m ni e W ord Se v . p v.U . I ve tca i Se vs.I ,270 Va. i t i i y.' pl x l r s Cor . S. n s i tons r . nc. I ( i 246,249( ) Howe ,whet rac twilenfr ori ldaeaçr titvec na ' i 2005 . ver he our l oce nvai t lesrci ove nt' 1 . i eq t i ofe afc-ade i r Fot v.Coo 220Va 800,805( 980)( i t t n uiy s tn a tl n nquiy. i k, . 1 notng ha i ! i ! û t rr titveco na si a e oyme c ta twilbeenf c i e t de nds s he esrc i whe ve nt n n mpl nt on r c l or ed n quiy pe uPOnt fcsi t patc arc e',s ealoDe iinI i s l c. Seni Gr .I ,311 he a t n he riul as '' e s cso nsght,- v. ta p. nc. ) n . Fed. x58 598( h Ci. App' 6, 4t r 2009)(e ri hetilc tsdeenni to t tano c mpeei r vesngt ra our' t nain ha n-o t p ; i i pr s on wasune o c abl and i t u tng t ti lco t o w e gh t S m pe i i e e t o ovii nf r e e ns r c i he r a ur t i he l co tng nt r s s f t e oye a t e o ' . he mpl r nd he mplyee' ) Thec tfndst tt pl a ngsf i o pr des fc e co e f t cour t ma our i ha he e di a lt ovi ufi i nt nt xt or he t o ke t f c -a n i r r quie t dee m i t r as blne soft ontac pr sonsi he a tlde nquiy e r d o tr ne he e ona e s hec r t ovii n ques i W hie c t ha f ton. l our s ve ound br dl or d nonc pe e ag ee ent w ihoutexpr s oa yw de om t r m s t es ge a c ort m por llm ia i nsf i ly i ld,s .e. ,Ca ol l v. c a el 2006 W L ogr phi e a i t to ac a l nva i ee c. nt . nc. M D ni , 1 399 a * ( D. Apr 28,2006) t Vigi aSu e Cour hasnothedt tt 21 2, t 6 E. Va. . ,he r ni prme t l ha he a e e oft e e e s lm ia i r bs nc hos xpr s i t tons ende sco i ntalt c a esoras i e ag ee e s r nf de i iy l us s gnm nt r m nt , s h a t e a is i t sca e,i i rs 2 A c or ngl , t cour fndst tt r c d uc s hos t s ue n hi s nvaldre e. c di y he t i ha he e or r quiesf rhe f c ua deve opm e t a s s t r as bl ne soft c le d pr sons e r ' t r at l u l nt o s e s he e ona e s he ha l nge ovi i , a dd ne ted fn n s mo inf r u g n o t epe dn s n e is h ee da t' to o j d me t n h la ig . 111. Fo ter a o ssae a o e t c u t e ist ed fn a t'mo inf r u g n o r h e s n ttd b v ,he o r d n e h ee d ns to o j d me t n pla i g p ru n t Rue 1 () e d n s u s a t o l 2 c. P '' .. M f .' .' . EN TER :August2,2011. UNI STATESDITRI J TED S CT UDGj! I I i ; i E 2M ikl ciest Vigi aCicui Cour ca e t ta idt e ts meanaysst contde i iy pr vii a ! c e t wo r ni r t t s s ha pple he xac a l i o i ntalt o sons s i WO l n r l a pyt c v n nsn t oc mp t.Se BB&Tl . ev . Th ma Ruh ro r.nc, 01 Va l ud o mal p l o o e a t o t o ee e y ns S r sv. o s t ef od l .2 0 . Ag.1XS5aFlde (aCrCiFb921)Leeoivt awo,t0st andd87,t8eo.urC. j CrL2,I09).t1-ralcourt.tge.,00,auph s. 1tn2exiWL7880a*sVrCggeti$ i E202,t#12V.iit. i diersiy.l rn tWa asi09s 3onotsurmi(asi s t . 1 sstn n v t lusspae s .t u ç e ' e pa so 'Bu rsCh m.lc v. X Cop.1 F.d2 3 2 7(t Ci.1 9 ) a dtec u tsu wiigt p e it x n in, ri e .n . US r , 0 3 4 , 4 4h r 9 3, n h o r i n ln o rdc 1 ' l t tt Vigi aSupr Cour woul a t postonoft s c t i lghtofot rpr ce ts si t t f ha he r ni eme t d dopt he ii he e om' n i s he e den ugge tng ha co i i iyclus sne t bea yze unde s nfdentalt a e ed o nal d r omewha dif rntsanda ds Se Roo- ev.Le s r 899F. I t fee t r . e t Di se, I Su p. 51 ,l 2 ( . Va 1 9 )(oigta tet ifrn ei p mo e' ewe nan n s l uep o iina da p 1 5 5 3 W D. . 9 5 n tn h th t fee c n u s 'b t e o dicosr r vso n i d I n n o eep o ii i d c t st et e e st f rd fe e t r ame f)( i n Ed nHa n n & Co v S mi mo q o c mp t r v son n ia e h t c s i o ifr n te t n ' ct g e n o n y i ..u t o Tr s & Baz n Co.91 F.d5 (t Ci. 9 0 ) e as Wo e Elc . m. Ad a c Gp.lc,1 91W L j ut l a > 4 2 56 4h r 1 9 ) se lo v n e sCo v. v n e .n . 9 ki 5 l 8 a * (t Ci. r 1 ,1 91 (oig,na pyigS uhCaol alw i te a sn eo e piig ia c ! 4 1 , t 4 4h r Ap . 5 9 ) n t i p l n o t r i a n h b e c f x l t ud n e l n n c fom t sae' s prm ec tt tano s os ea ee ntma bevald e n t r he tt s u e our, ha ndicl ur gr me v i ve hough i c ai notmeorplc t ont ns i aq rsrcin ) etito s. !

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