Most everyone in Georgia has heard of master illusionist David Copperfield. It could safely be said that he may understand the need to protect trade secrets and intellectual property better than most businessmen. So when employees that he says violated his intellectual property rights filed an overtime pay lawsuit, it begged the question of whether it was filed as a distraction from Copperfield’s suit.
The employees filed the suit in February, alleging that they were forced to work seven days a week for around 14 hours a day and were not paid overtime. They allege that their employer hid behind non-disclosure agreements as a way to keep them from filing a lawsuit based on their working conditions. A spokesperson for Copperfield says that he treats his employees well.
In fact, he also asserted that the lawsuit filed by the stagehands is aimed at distracting everyone from the case filed by Imagine Nation Company Inc., Backstage Employment and Referral Inc. and David Copperfield’s Disappearing Inc. (Copperfield’s business entities). The suit, which was filed in January, alleges breach of contract, disclosure of trade secrets and conspiracy against the stagehands. The suit claims trade secrets of Copperfield’s were disclosed by the defendants.
It remains to be seen whether the overtime pay suit filed was indeed filed to divert everyone’s attention from the purported theft of trade secrets and intellectual property. In any business, the unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and theft of intellectual property could potentially cripple a business. Georgia business owners may see how such disclosures could cause irreparable harm to Copperfield and his businesses.
Source: utsandiego.com, “Vegas magician stagehands suing over wage dispute”, Ken Ritter, April 4, 2014
