MPT Group Ltd v Peel & Ors

MPT Group Ltd v Peel & Ors

The claimant established a prima facie case of breach of duty and limited misuse of confidential information, but the evidence did not support widespread misuse or justify a springboard injunction. The confidentiality clause was too wide to be enforceable, but the claimant is entitled to limited injunctive relief to protect specific confidential documents pending trial.

Parties
Claimant: MPT Group Limited; First Defendant: Shaun William Peel; Second Defendant: Michael Alan Birtwistle; Third Defendant: MattressTek Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 May 2017
Procedural Posture
Interim Injunction Application / Ruling on Interim Injunction Pending Trial
Outcome
Application for springboard injunction dismissed; limited interim injunction granted to protect specific confidential information pending trial.
Legal Topics
Breach of Contract, Duty of Fidelity, Misuse of Confidential Information, Springboard Injunctions, Copyright Infringement, Database Rights, Restrictive Covenants, Economic Torts
Employment Law Intellectual Property Commercial Law Breach of Contract Duty of Fidelity Misuse of Confidential Information Springboard Injunctions Copyright Infringement +3 more

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Parties

MPT Group Limited

Claimant

Shaun William Peel

First Defendant

Michael Alan Birtwistle

Second Defendant

MattressTek Limited

Third Defendant

Procedural Posture

Interim Injunction Application / Ruling on Interim Injunction Pending Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the defendants breached contractual and fiduciary duties by copying and misusing confidential information
  2. 2 Whether a springboard injunction is justified to restrain unfair competitive advantage
  3. 3 Whether the defendants infringed copyright and database rights

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant established a prima facie case of breach of duty and limited misuse of confidential information, but the evidence did not support widespread misuse or justify a springboard injunction. The confidentiality clause was too wide to be enforceable, but the claimant is entitled to limited injunctive relief to protect specific confidential documents pending trial.

Court Disposition

Application for springboard injunction dismissed; limited interim injunction granted to protect specific confidential information pending trial.

Orders

  • Defendants restrained from retaining, copying, using, manufacturing machines in accordance with, or divulging to third parties the claimant’s technical drawings, customer lists, supplier lists, and bill of materials database pending trial or further order, except for the measurement admitted by Mr Peel.
  • Springboard injunction refused.