Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Chicago accusing one of its former scientists of secretly downloading trade secrets when he resigned from the firm’s Nutrition business to join rivals years ago.
According to a court filing on Tuesday, the maker of Ensure brand of nutrition products notes that Roger Tyre, who served the company in 2012 – 2018, “may be peddling Abbott’s trade secrets” to the benefit of its competitors.
Tyre had already agreed to join Better Nutritionals, LLC, a contract manufacturer of nutritional products, when he made the downloads, Abbott (ABT) argued.
After Tyre faced termination at the new employer, USB devices with Abbott’s propriety information were found at his office, the North Chicago, Illinois-based healthcare company said, adding that the accused is now working for rival nutrition product makers.
“Companies could use the information stolen by Tyre to quickly and cheaply develop products in competition with Abbott’s current portfolio of nutritional products,” Abbott (ABT) said.
Reporting on the lawsuit, Reuters said that a lawyer has yet to appear on behalf of Tyre, and he couldn’t be contacted for comments.
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Abbott accuses former nutrition scientist stole trade secrets
