Fred Siegel Co., L.P.A. v. Arter & Hadden

• Decision Date: 07 April 1999
• Docket Number: No. 97-1998,97-1998
• Citation: 707 N.E.2d 853,85 Ohio St.3d 171
• Parties: FRED SIEGEL CO., L.P.A. et al., Appellees, v. ARTER & HADDEN et al., Appellants.
• Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Page 171

85 Ohio St.3d 171

707 N.E.2d 853

FRED SIEGEL CO., L.P.A. et al., Appellees, v. ARTER & HADDEN et al., Appellants.

No. 97-1998.

Supreme Court of Ohio.

Submitted Sept. 29, 1998.

Decided April 7, 1999.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1. The elements of the tort of tortious interference with contract are (1) the existence of a contract, (2) the wrongdoer's knowledge of the contract, (3) the wrongdoer's intentional procurement of the contract's breach, (4) lack of justification, and (5) resulting damages. (Kenty v. Transamerica Premium Ins. Co. [1995], 72 Ohio St.3d 415, 650 N.E.2d 863, paragraph two of the syllabus, affirmed and followed.)

2. Establishment of the fourth element of the tort of tortious interference with contract, lack of justification, requires proof that the defendant's interference with another's contract was improper. (Kenty v. Transamerica Premium Ins. Co. [1995], 72 Ohio St.3d 415, 650 N.E.2d 863, affirmed and followed.)

3. In determining whether an actor has acted improperly in intentionally interfering with a contract or prospective contract of another, consideration should be given to the following factors: (a) the nature of the actor's conduct, (b) the actor's motive, (c) the interests of the other with which the actor's conduct interferes, (d) the interests sought to be advanced by the actor, (e) the social interests in protecting the freedom of action of the actor and the contractual interests of the other, (f) the proximity or remoteness of the actor's conduct to the interference, and (g) the relations between the parties. (Restatement of the Law 2d, Torts [1979], Section 767, adopted.)

4. Establishment of the privilege of fair competition, as set forth in Section 768 of the Restatement, will defeat a claim of tortious interference with contract where the contract is terminable at will. (Restatement of the Law 2d, Torts [1979], Section 768, adopted.)

5. Pursuant to former R.C. 1333.51(A)(3), listings of names, addresses, or telephone numbers that have not been published or disseminated, or otherwise become a matter of general public knowledge, constitute trade secrets if the owner of the list has taken reasonable precautions to protect the secrecy of the listing to prevent it from being made available to persons other than those selected by the owner to have access to it in furtherance of the owner's purposes.

6. The question whether a particular knowledge or process is a trade secret is a question of fact to be determined by the trier of fact upon the greater weight of the evidence. (Valco Cincinnati, Inc. v. N & D Machining Serv., Inc. [1986], 24 Ohio St.3d 41, 24 OBR 83, 492 N.E.2d 814, affirmed and followed.)

Fred Siegel Co., L.P.A., and Fred Siegel (collectively, "Siegel") initiated this action by filing a complaint naming as defendants attorney Karen H. Bauernschmidt and the law firm of Arter & Hadden. Fred Siegel alleged that he was a principal of the licensed professional association Fred Siegel Co., L.P.A., and that defendant Bauernschmidt had been employed by Siegel until September 23, 1992, when she resigned to join Arter & Hadden. The complaint alleged tort liability based on theories of tortious interference with contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of fiduciary duty.

The defendants denied liability.

During discovery it was established that Bauernschmidt had worked for the Siegel law firm for ten years as an associate attorney. During that period, Bauernschmidt provided legal counsel to Siegel clients in regard to valuation of property and assessment of real property tax, and had represented them in county boards of revision, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, and in the courts. During her employment with Siegel, Bauernschmidt had direct and frequent contact with Siegel clients and had developed personal relationships with many of them. Bauernschmidt conceded in deposition testimony, however, that the clients for whom she worked while an associate were clients of Siegel.

As an associate at the Siegel law firm, Bauernschmidt had full access to client files, as well as access to information regarding the identity and addresses of Siegel clients and contact persons, and fee agreements. During her tenure at Siegel, she maintained a Rolodex contact directory at her desk including information regarding both personal and professional acquaintances.

Prior to deciding to leave Siegel, Bauernschmidt discussed with Arter & Hadden the possibility of Siegel clients following her to her new firm. Moreover, Bauernschmidt acknowledged informing Arter & Hadden of the nature of the contingent fee structure that Siegel generally used to charge its clients for work similar to that Bauernschmidt would do for Arter & Hadden.

In late August 1992, Arter & Hadden offered employment to Bauernschmidt. On September 2, Bauernschmidt gave notice to Siegel of her intent to leave the firm, effective September 23, 1992. During the three-week period before her departure, during which she continued working at Siegel, Bauernschmidt informed Siegel clients with whom she spoke that other Siegel attorneys would be taking responsibility for their cases. If asked, Bauernschmidt would tell clients that she was leaving Siegel and joining Arter & Hadden.

On the day prior to her departure, Siegel instructed Bauernschmidt in writing not to "directly or indirectly solicit" any of its clients in the future, implying that it considered its client list confidential. In addition, Siegel advised Bauernschmidt not to "take any lists or copies of lists of the firms [sic ] clients or any other listed information of the firms [sic ] business and any of the information in the firm's posession [sic ] dealing with said clients."

On her last day at the Siegel firm, Bauernschmidt removed personal belongings from her office, including the cards contained in her Rolodex file. Additionally, Bauernschmidt had possession of a Siegel client list in her home, which was available to her for a period of time after her departure, although she later returned it to her former employer, at its request.

After leaving Siegel, Bauernschmidt wrote letters to Siegel clients notifying them of her new association with Arter & Hadden. The letters, written on Arter & Hadden stationery, read:

"During the past ten years, I have had the pleasure of providing legal services which have reduced your real estate taxes. I am pleased to announce that I have joined the Cleveland office of the law firm of Arter & Hadden.

"At Arter & Hadden, my legal practice will concentrate on real property and other state tax matters. I would like for us to continue our professional relationship. When you need assistance or have questions, please contact me."

Bauernschmidt testified that she sent the letters to persons for whom she had performed legal work while at Siegel, and that she identified those persons from various sources, not excluding both her Rolodex file cards and the Siegel client list. She further stated that she had discussed with Arter & Hadden the prospect of making such a mailing prior to sending the letters.

Upon learning of Bauernschmidt's letters, Siegel issued letters to its clients, which read, in part:

"You may have recently received a letter from Karen Bauernschmidt, a former associate of this firm, which she has apparently sent to a significant number of clients of our firm, without our knowledge or authority. While her departure was amicable, her mailing of this type of letter was unexpected by us. In order to dispel any confusion with respect to your legal matters being handled by this office, I feel obliged to reply.

"Although Karen is no longer here, we have added additional legal and other professional personnel to our staff and are ready, willing and able to continue our services on your behalf. As you know, this firm's professional relationship with you is a valued one, and we shall continue representing you ably and professionally in your matters that you have entrusted to us, as well as any new items for which you decide to engage us."

Following Bauernschmidt's departure from Siegel, Arter & Hadden sent a later mailing to solicit business for Bauernschmidt. The mailing consisted of a two-page solicitation describing the real property tax appraisal services that Arter & Hadden provided and listing Bauernschmidt as a person to contact for more information. In deposition testimony, Bauernschmidt stated that the solicitation was sent to current Arter & Hadden clients, but also to other targeted property owners irrespective of whether they were Arter & Hadden clients. She acknowledged that the solicitation reached Siegel clients. Bauernschmidt testified at deposition that she did not create the mailing list used in connection with this mailing and that the mailing list consisted of addresses of Arter & Hadden clients and others identified from business directories.

Thereafter, an undetermined number of clients changed their legal representation from the Siegel firm to Bauernschmidt and requested the transfer of their files to her.

In the first count of the complaint, Siegel claimed that Bauernschmidt and Arter & Hadden had tortiously interfered with Siegel's business relationships and contracts with clients by soliciting those clients to change their legal representation to Bauernschmidt and Arter & Hadden. In counts two and three of the complaint, Siegel alleged that Bauernschmidt had knowingly and willfully retained copies of confidential information and trade secrets belonging to Siegel, and that both defendants had tortiously misappropriated that information and improperly solicited Siegel clients. In count four of the complaint, Siegel alleged that Bauernschmidt had violated a fiduciary duty of loyalty owed to Siegel.

Following discovery, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Bauernschmidt and Arter & Hadden, without opinion. The court of appeals reversed and ordered remand as to...