Contessa Obtains Multi-Million Dollar Jury Verdict Against Thai Union ff

A California Superior Court jury has found defendants Thai Union International, Inc., Empress International, Inc. and Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods (collectively “Thai Union”), as well as Bryan Rosenberg and Brenden Beck (former employees of Contessa Premium Foods, Inc.) liable in connection with a scheme to steal trade secrets and compete unfairly with Contessa in the sale of frozen food products in the United States.

The case of Contessa Premium Foods, Inc. v. Bryan Rosenberg et al. (BC 347105) dates back to 2005 when, without Contessa’s knowledge, Thai Union began interviewing several key Contessa sales executives. The jury found that Thai Union ultimately conspired with two of the highest-ranking sales executives, defendants Bryan Rosenberg and Brenden Beck, to misappropriate Contessa’s valuable trade secrets, defraud Contessa and take Contessa’s existing as well as anticipated customers. The jury also found that Rosenberg and Beck breached their fiduciary duty while employed by Contessa and did so with malice, oppression or fraud. The jury was unanimous in its determination that Rosenberg and Thai Union engaged in fraud by concealment resulting in significant damages to Contessa. Contessa was represented in this case by the Los Angeles office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

On September 25, 2008, Contessa was awarded compensatory damages of approximately $2.8 million. The following day, September 26, the jury came back with punitive damages against Thai Union for another $1.5 million and against Rosenberg for another $200,000, making the total damages awarded to Contessa $4.5 million. In addition, Contessa is legally entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs as well as interest on the damages in this case.

“This is a complete vindication for Contessa, our employees and, most importantly, our customers who supported us through all of this,” said Gregory J. Morrow, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Contessa Premium Foods, Inc. “The jury’s verdict upholds Contessa’s exclusive right to its very valuable trade secrets and sends an undeniable message that the fraud and obvious wrongdoing on the part of defendants in this case will never be tolerated.”

Source: Contessa Premium Foods, Inc.