PHILADELPHIA – A King of Prussia company claims a former employee illegally accessed and stole confidential company information to help a competitor.
PetroChoice Holdings Inc. filed a complaint Dec. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Francis Orobono Jr. alleging violation of the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, breach of contract and other claims.
The suit states Orobono began working for Craft Oil on March 31, 2008, which was acquired by PetroChoice in 2013. In late 2018, Orobono left PetroChoice's employ but acted as a consultant while becoming an employee of Jack Williams Tire Co. (JWT), according to the suit.
PetroChoice alleges Orobono illegally accessed its computer network to "steal and misappropriate" its trade secrets and confidential information to help JWT steel accounts from PetroChoice.
PetroChoice seeks damages, a trial by jury, interest and all other proper relief. It is represented by Steven Urgo of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in Wayne.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:19-CV-06152