McMillan Electric Company has taken legal action against a former employee, accusing him of various wrongful acts that have allegedly caused significant harm to the company's business operations and reputation. On March 14, 2025, McMillan Electric Company filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, against Ruben Bustoz. The lawsuit includes several serious allegations such as breach of duty of loyalty, misappropriation of trade secrets, defamation, conversion, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage.
The plaintiff in this case is McMillan Electric Company, a California corporation based in San Francisco County. The company claims that Ruben Bustoz, a former employee who was terminated on November 2, 2022, engaged in activities that were detrimental to their business interests. According to the complaint filed by attorney Christopher Karic from Furukawa Castles LLP, Bustoz made false allegations about fraudulent billing practices at McMillan Electric while working on a project for a Fortune 500 client in Silicon Valley. These claims were investigated and found baseless by both the client and the general contractor involved.
The lawsuit further accuses Bustoz of soliciting confidential information from current employees after his termination. Alongside two other former employees—Dilan Nguyen and Ben Kirby—Bustoz allegedly obtained proprietary sales strategies and cost estimates unlawfully. The plaintiff asserts that these actions have resulted in substantial economic losses due to missed business opportunities and reputational damage within the industry.
McMillan Electric seeks compensatory damages for the financial losses incurred due to these alleged breaches. They are also pursuing punitive damages to deter similar conduct in the future and injunctive relief to prevent further misuse or dissemination of their confidential information. Additionally, they request coverage for legal costs associated with this case.
The legal team representing McMillan Electric comprises attorneys from Furukawa Castles LLP with Christopher Karic leading the charge. The case is identified under Case No. CGC-25-623315 in the Superior Court of California.