Minuteman, Inc. v. Alexander

434 N.W.2d 773 (1989)

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Minuteman, Inc. v. Alexander

Wisconsin Supreme Court
434 N.W.2d 773 (1989)

  • Written by Jack Newell, JD

Facts

Minuteman Incorporated and Amity, Incorporated were both companies that strip furniture. Two employees of Minuteman, L. D. Alexander and George Cash (defendants), left the company to work at Amity. Minuteman sued in the circuit court for Dane County. Minuteman alleged—and the court found—that when Cash left, he took with him a furniture-stripping formula called Stripper ’76. Cash denied taking the formula. Alexander took lists from Minuteman. One was a list of previous customers, and the other was a list of inquiries in response to advertisements. Minuteman sued Alexander and Cash, claiming they had misappropriated trade secrets. The circuit court found that both the formula and the lists were trade secrets. The court of appeals affirmed on those issues. The case was appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Day, J.)

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