PHILADELPHIA — A manufacturing company is suing a scientist, citing alleged breach of employment contract and conversion.
Heraeus Precious Metals North America Conshohocken LLC filed a complaint on Nov. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Haixin Yang, alleging violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act and Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 29, 2016 Heraeus Precious Metals North America Conshohocken LLC hired defendant Yang as a Research & Development Scientist at its West Conshohocken location.
Plaintiff claims during Yang's employment he created a file on his work computer into which Yang placed Heraeus’ product formulas, which are Heraeus’ most sensitive competitive information, as well as other highly confidential and proprietary information that he also downloaded immediately prior to his separation from the company in November 2018 without informing plaintiff.
The plaintiff holds Haixin Yang responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to disclose to Heraeus that he had downloaded confidential information to a USB device and refused its requests to have his personal computer inspected by a forensic consultant.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for preliminary and permanent injunction, award of actual and compensatory damages, and such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper. They are represented by Gerald Burns of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC in Philadelphia.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case No. is 2:18-cv-05132-GEKP.