Batavia company files suit accusing ex-employee of stealing trade secrets

A Batavia company is suing a former worker, alleging he stole company secrets before leaving to work for a competitor, according a lawsuit recently filed in Kane County.

Batavia Container Inc. is seeking a restraining order and injunction against Robert M. Dunn, the company's former manager of packing supplies, to keep him from sharing proprietary data and company trade secrets, the suit says.

The lawsuit alleges Dunn, of Batavia, accessed company computers May 27 - less than 48 hours before resigning - and downloaded information to a thumb drive before joining Victory Packaging in Aurora. He has refused to return the information despite signing a confidentiality and no-compete agreements in 2010 and 2014, the suit argues.

Peter Storm, an attorney representing Batavia Container, argued in the lawsuit that Dunn had "confidential and proprietary data" and that if shared with a competitor, it would violate the Illinois Trade Secrets Act.

"The unauthorized dissemination of any of BCI's trade secrets, confidential information, pricing formulae, customer lists, and quotations to any competitor of BCI's would irreparably and seriously harm the economic interests of BCI and would effectively enable any competitor to undermine BCI's existing and expectant business and customer relationships," wrote Storm, who did not return phone messages.

A message left for Dunn at Victory Packaging was returned by a man who identified himself as the plant general manager, saying Dunn no longer worked there.

A message left with Victory's corporate office inquiring when Dunn's employment ended was not immediately returned.

Dunn has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

The case is due in court on Aug. 25.