CL – Peters-Delaughter ties probed; “Unprecedented” and dramatic turn in store for Eaton v. Frisby
The Hinds County lawsuit filed by Jackson-based Eaton Aerospace Corp. against North Carolina-based Frisby Aerospace, now known as Triumph Actuation Systems, was put on hold by Circuit Judge Swan Yerger earlier this year to allow Frisby’s attorneys to investigate whether Peters was hired by Eaton to influence DeLaughter.
If Frisby attorneys can prove DeLaughter was improperly influenced by Peters and Eaton knew about it, Eaton’s lawsuit against a group of former employees likely would be dismissed. Eaton maintains that five former engineers of its Jackson office stole trade secrets and gave them to their new employer, Frisby.
Whatever happens in the case will set a precedent in Mississippi, said state Rep. Ed Blackmon Jr. of Canton, one of Frisby’s attorneys.
Blackmon said he doesn’t expect an end to the case anytime soon, and added during an interview earlier this month, “I think the case is about to take a dramatic turn.”
“I can’t say anything about what is going on because everything is under seal,” he said. “It’s an unprecedented sealing of all documents.”
Clarion-Ledger
12/26/9
