PITTSBURGH - Builders Firstsource, Inc. has been accused of recruiting a competing business’ employees, including one of the defendants, in a lawsuit.
The Carter-Jones Lumber Company, Carter Lumber Co., and Carter Lumber of Virginia, Inc. sued BFS and Rodney Shipton in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on March 17.
Demanding a jury, Carter-Jones Lumber alleged that BFS secretly recruited “Carter’s key sales employees, including Shipton himself, to unfairly compete against Carter and tortuously interfere with its existing and prospective business relationships,” according to the lawsuit.
Carter-Jones claimed that Shipton teamed up with BFS, while he was still working for the plaintiff), to steal trade secret and confidential information to make a profit for themselves. Carter-Jones noted that this a violation of a confidentiality agreement that Shipton signed.
The plaintiffs are suing for breach of confidentiality agreement, misappropriation of trade secrets in violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, misappropriation of trade secrets in violation of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, breach of duties of good faith and loyalty, tortious interference with Carter’s potential customers and business connections, unfair competition and civil conspiracy.
They’re seeking compensatory and punitive or exemplary damages, each for more than $75,000.
They also want the court to stop the defendants from the alleged conduct.