United States District Court Blocks FTC's Final Rule Banning Non-Compete Agreements
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced the “Final Non-Compete Clause Rule” banning most post-employment non-compete clauses between employers and employees. The final rule was set to take effect on September 4, 2024, however, on August 20, 2024, amidst employers’…
What Can You Get When You Sue for Trade Secret Violations?
June 4, 2024
by Devin R. Bates
Arkansas has adopted the Model Uniform Trade Secrets Act with some modifications. We refer to this as the Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“AUTSA”) and it can be found at Ark. Code Ann. § 4-75-601, et seq. The AUTSA provides that a party seeking to enforce trade secret claims can seek the…
Are Attorneys Fees Recoverable When Suing on Trade Secret Claims?
May 28, 2024
by Devin R. Bates
Are attorney fees recoverable when suing on trade secret claims? In some cases, yes. In Arkansas, attorneys’ fees are recoverable in a breach of contract case. As we have discussed in prior blog posts on the subject, trade secret claims are often brought alongside a variety of employment and…
Are Certain Claims Prevented When Bringing a Trade Secret Claim?
May 21, 2024
by Devin R. Bates
Are certain claims prevented when bringing a trade secret claim? Yes. Generally speaking the Arkansas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (AUTSA) displaces conflicting tort, restitutionary, and other law concerning the misappropriation of a trade secret. However, a plaintiff seeking to protect trade secrets…
Do You Need to Have a Contract to Bring a Trade Secret Claim?
May 14, 2024
by Devin R. Bates
Do you need to have a contract to bring a trade secret claim? No. Arkansas law protects trade secrets whether there is a contractual agreement to protect them or whether no such written agreement exists. Oftentimes, the parties agree (for example at the start of an employment or contracting…