PHILADELPHIA – An Ohio limited liability company has filed suit against two Pennsylvania residents and a North Carolina corporation over allegations of unlawful solicitation of its customers.
Key Investment Services LLC filed a complaint on June 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Chad Polin, Richard Walker and BB&T Corp. alleging breach of agreement, tortious interference with contractual relations and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff's parent company acquired First Niagara Bank in July 2016 and the bank's customer and investment accounts. The suit states Polin and Walker were financial advisers with First Niagara prior to the acquisition and became employees of the plaintiff in September 2016. The plaintiff alleges Polin and Walker were provided with highly confidential client lists and database information.
The suit states Polin and Walker resigned on June 3 and accepted employment with BB&T. The plaintiff alleges Polin and Walker began soliciting the plaintiff's customers to transfer their accounts to BB&T in violation of agreements they signed with the plaintiff.
The plaintiff seeks to enjoin the defendants, order the return of plaintiff's properties currently in their possession, compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs and any further relief the court grants. It is represented by John M. Nolan and Dean F. Falavolito of Jackson Lewis PC in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:17-cv-02966-AB