EDWARDSVILLE – An Asian food distributor in Granite City alleges three former employees misappropriated confidential information to open a competing business.
Baily International Inc. filed a complaint on Dec. 26, 2017, in the Madison County Circuit Court against Kyle Wang, Amy Zhao, Huong Mau Thai and Winly Foods LLC alleging that they violated the Illinois Trade Secrets Act and other counts.
According to the complaint, Wang, Zhao and Thai are former employees of the plaintiff. The suit states Wang and Zhao resigned on Oct. 31, 2016, and Thai resigned Jan. 31, 2017. The plaintiff alleges Wang and Zhao planned to open a competing egg roll business while still employed by the plaintiff and misappropriated the plaintiff's confidential information to complete with it. The suit states Wang and Zhao formed Winly in September 2016, and that Thai on Winly's behalf solicited the plaintiff's employees to work for Winly.
The plaintiff alleges that as a result of defendants' misconduct, it has suffered damages and will to suffer additional damages worth millions of dollars, loss of goodwill and loss of competitive advantage, unless defendants are restrained by the court.
The plaintiff seeks preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining and restraining defendants from engaging in any business competitive with plaintiff, award for actual and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs and all other relief as the court may deem just and proper. He is represented by Michael B. Kass, Christopher D. Baucom and Cynthia M. Juedemann of Armstrong Teasdale LLP in St. Louis, Missouri.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-1746