Tampa Business Litigation Blog

Riot Games reaches settlement agreement in discrimination lawsuit

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Employment Law Disputes on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

Workplace equality continues to be a goal for many individuals in Florida and elsewhere, employers and employees alike. When allegations of unfair treatment arise, all parties involved may feel it is in their best interests to seek guidance on all available options to help resolve the issue in the most effective manner. Riot Games has reportedly agreed to pay a substantial settlement in relation to a lawsuit in which the company was accused of gender discrimination.

According to reports, the incident began when two female employees at Riot Games filed a lawsuit, accusing the company of discrimination in 2018. In the lawsuit, the two claimed that they had been subjected to harassment and discrimination on a routine basis. They also assert that Riot had violated the terms of the Equal Pay Act of the state involved.

Restaurant owner accuses former chefs of breach of contract

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

When business owners in Florida or elsewhere feel that certain employees have continually failed to uphold the terms of their contracts, they may choose to take action to rectify the situation. Should these employees feel that they have been wrongfully accused of wrongdoing, they may wish to gain insight on the available options to help protect their legal rights. Two former chefs at a high-profile restaurant in another state were recently fired after the owner of the establishment accused them of breach of contract.

According to reports, the incident began after a co-founder of the restaurant Noosh filed a lawsuit accusing two chefs of breaching their contracts. The man claims that an investigation uncovered evidence suggesting the two had misappropriated company funds for personal gain. He has also accused the two of providing false information to the media about company operations.

Cisco files theft of trade secrets claim against former employees

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

Many companies in Florida and elsewhere consider their intellectual property to be a cornerstone for the success of the business and wish to protect such information at all costs. Theft of trade secrets is a major concern for many companies and the outcome of such disputes can affect the future of a business in various ways. Networking company Cisco Systems Inc. has reportedly filed a lawsuit accusing some of its former employees of stealing sensitive company information and sharing it with their new employer.

After resigning from their positions within the company, Cisco claims that all three former employees obtained a position with rival company Poly. Prior to turning in his resignation, Cisco asserts that one of the men downloaded sensitive information on a variety of products and services. The company says that this also included design information on a prototype of an upcoming product.

Dealing with zoning disputes for your new business

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. on Sunday, November 17, 2019.

You and your business partners have explored many corners of Florida, and you have finally found the ideal place to build and run your business. You have plans for a modern building with all the amenities to maximize the success of your company and draw clients and talented employees from near and far.

While you believe you have followed the rules related to commercial property in the area, you are surprised to learn that someone has filed a complaint against you with the zoning board. Do you know how to handle such complaints and what your best options are to avoid jeopardizing the plans for your new venture?

Contract disputes erupt between PennyMac and Black Knight

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

The sudden end of a business relationship may affect the futures of each company involved in various ways. In some cases, the termination of a contract could leave a business in Florida facing the possibility of significant financial loss, while others may feel that a similar scenario could open up opportunities for expansion and growth. Mortgage companies Black Knight and PennyMac Financial Services have reportedly engaged in contract disputes following the recent end of their business relationship.

According to reports, Black Knight created a mortgage servicing bank account program that has been used by a variety of lending companies over recent years. The company states that PennyMac was among this list and asserts that the other party recently chose to terminate its contract after developing a program of its own. Black Knight asserts that the other company used access to its own program to steal sensitive company information and it has since filed a lawsuit accusing PennyMac of breach of contract and violation of antitrust laws.

Sweep accuses Blue Duck Express of breach of contract

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

Upon entering a business agreement with another party, companies in Florida and elsewhere may expect their new partners to be capable of holding up their end of the arrangement. Allegations of failure to comply with the terms of a contract can lead to intense disputes that can have a significant impact on the future of all companies involved. A company that performs charging services for electric scooters has recently filed a breach of contract lawsuit accusing another party of misrepresenting its capabilities.

The company Sweep says the incident began when it reached an agreement to provide housing and charging services for electric scooters for Blue Duck Express. Sweep says it was to provide these services after Blue Duck sought to expand operations to a new area. However, the company claims that the expansion was placed on hold after Blue Duck failed to take the necessary steps to obtain permits for the operation.

Epic Games files breach of contract claim against game tester

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

When it comes to protecting sensitive information, product designs and operation procedures might not be the only concerns for companies in Florida and elsewhere. In some cases, a company may also wish to safeguard its plans for the future and the unauthorized release of such information could prove detrimental in various ways. Epic Games has recently filed a lawsuit accusing a game tester of breach of contract under similar circumstances.

According to reports, the man was given access to upcoming content for the popular game Fortnite nearly a month before the content was set to release. Epic asserts that he signed a nondisclosure agreement that prohibited him from sharing any information pertaining to the content prior to its release. However, the company claims he disclosed information about some of the game's new features shortly after he began testing it.

Anheuser-Busch accuses MillerCoors of theft of trade secrets

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Protecting sensitive information is a goal that many companies in Florida and elsewhere may feel is vital to the success of a business. When a company feels that another party has sought to gain access to its trade secrets, it may wish to know more about the available options to help safeguard its interests. Anheuser-Busch has recently filed a theft of trade secrets lawsuit against MillerCoors accusing the company of stealing information on product recipes.

According to reports, the allegations of a potential theft of trade secrets is the latest complaint during an ongoing feud between the two companies. In the complaint, Anheuser-Busch reportedly claims to have discovered evidence indicating that former employees who now work for MillerCoors took measures to obtain recipes on two popular brands from current employees. The company asserts that these individuals then proceeded to share this proprietary information with their new employer.

Evidence of discrimination prevention measures may be necessary

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

As an employer, it can be difficult to keep everything on track. Nonetheless, you have the responsibility of ensuring that your employees act appropriately in the workplace and do not feel as if they are the subject of any type of unlawful treatment, such as discrimination. Of course, you cannot fully control all of your employees, and claims of such mistreatment could come about.

Understandably, you may worry about legal action coming against your company due to discriminatory actions. Even if you believe that you and the company took the proper steps to address a complaint, a disgruntled employee could still file a claim. How can you protect yourself and the company?

Demotion leads to allegations of breach of contract

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

There could be a variety of scenarios in which a company in Florida or elsewhere might decide to make changes to its available positions of employment. In some cases, a similar decision could affect the careers of current employees and leave them in search of guidance on how to protect their interests. A former assistant chief at a fire department in another state has recently filed a breach of contract lawsuit after claiming he was unlawfully demoted.

According to the lawsuit, the incident stems from a recent meeting in which city officials decided to remove the position of assistant chief at a local fire department. This decision was reportedly part of an effort to address budgeting concerns within the department. The acting assistant chief claims that once the vote was passed, he was subsequently demoted to shift captain.