David Rich obtains federal jury verdict in business partnership dispute
David H. Rich obtained a $290,000 federal jury verdict on behalf of his clients in a partnership dispute involving the buying and selling of Chapter 13 bankruptcy debt.
After deliberating for less than a day following the six-day trial in federal court in Worcester, Mass., the jury found that the defendant, a former partner of Mr. Rich's client, breached his fiduciary duties, misappropriated the partnership's trade secrets and confidential business information, and tortiously interfered with the partnership's business relationships.
Mr. Rich’s clients, Shawn Mulligan and his company, Elite Enterprise Services, contended that after a disagreement among the two partners, Mr. Mulligan’s partner began stripping Elite Enterprise Services of its assets, resources and client lists.
In addition to its unanimous verdict in favor of Mr. Mulligan and Elite, the jury rejected the former partner's claims that Mr. Mulligan had violated his fiduciary duties and had allegedly converted company property.
The partnership had specialized in buying and selling debt involving bankrupt and deceased debtors.
Mr. Rich, a partner at Todd & Weld LLP, has obtained numerous jury verdicts in federal and state courts in a variety of cases. His civil litigation practice is primarily focused on complex business and commercial disputes, First Amendment law, and employment law.