Nasty Flood of Phone Calls and E-Mails Gives Rise to Computer Fraud Damage Claim – 6th Cir.

In Pulte Homes International Union of North America, 648 F.3d 295 (6th Cir. 2011), the Sixth Circuit addressed the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in a case where a national labor union launched a barrage of  harassing telephone calls and e-mails against a Michigan home builder that fired a union member. The plaintiff home sued the union under the …

Illinois Trade Secrets and Customer Lists

Garon Foods v. Montieth, 2013 WL 3338292 (S.D.Ill. 2013), analyzes the Illinois Trade Secrets Act, 765 ILCS 1065/1 et seq. (ITSA) and the governing preliminary injunctive relief standards in a diversity dispute over the distribution of pepper jack cheese products. The plaintiff peppers distributor sued a former employee after she resigned and went to work for one of plaintiff’s suppliers.  The …

Oral Contracts in Illinois – Are they Enforceable?

Yes.  Oral contracts are enforceable.  The main exceptions are contracts governed by the Statute of Frauds (SOF), which requires certain contracts to be in writing.  See 740 ILCS 80/1, 2; 810 ILCS 5/2-201.  The Illinois Credit Agreements Act (ICA) also requires certain agreements to lend money in a commercial setting be in writing. 815 ILCS 160/1 et seq. I still use …