SAN DIEGO – A San Mateo solar energy products manufacturer claims a former sales representative stole confidential information.
SolarCity Corp. filed a complaint on Dec. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against Daniel Doria citing the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that in May 2015, it hired defendant as an inside energy specialist with a main responsibility to sell plaintiff's solar energy products and services to residential consumers. Due to the sensitivity of his position, the suit states Doria was made to sign an at-will employment, confidential information, invention assignment, and arbitration agreement where he agreed to keep all information confidential. However, the plaintiff alleges it discovered that Doria stole some 1,343 customer data prior to his termination in October 2016 and used the information to send customers emails to dissuade them from using plaintiff's products. The plaintiff claims the defendant's alleged actions caused it substantial injury to its reputation, goodwill and profit.
The plaintiff holds Doria responsible because the defendant allegedly fabricated misleading and incorrect information to warn consumers of plaintiff's products/services and misappropriated consumer information listing to deface plaintiff's reputation.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement, royalties, penalties, compensatory and exemplary damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, interest, and other relief as the court deems appropriate. It is represented by Ronald D. Arena and Conor D. Mack of Arena Hoffman LLP in San Francisco.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California Case number 3:16-cv-03085