August 2016
Successful Appeal: First Circuit ruled in favor of our client, a national specialty insurance provider.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled in favor or our client, Volunteer Firemen’s Ins. Services, Inc., in a claim that VFIS had aided and abetted its local agent in soliciting away a claims-management practice group from plaintiff Cook & Co. Ins. Services, Inc. and then marketing the new group. The First Circuit upheld the decision of the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts (Stearns, J.) that the allegations against VFIS did not state a valid claim. The Court ruled that businesses generally are allowed, absent contractual limitations, to hire away employees of their competitors, even if that act causes business harm to the competitor.
Congratulations to
James Gray Wagner, arguing the appeal, and
Russell F. Conn and
Katherine A. Kelter, on brief.