Catapult Must Pay BioPoint $5 Million in Biotech Recruiting Suit

Catapult Staffing LLC was ordered by a federal court to pay BioPoint Inc. more than $5 million in damages for using its trade secrets to underbid offers to biotech clients including Takeda-owned Shire.

The US District Court for the District of Massachusetts multiplied the amount of actual damages by three, because Catapult allowed executive Andrew Dickhaut to solicit confidential information from his fiance who worked at BioPoint, despite both knowing his actions were illegal.

BioPoint is a life sciences consulting firm that recruits consultants for pharmaceutical companies, according to the order. Catapult provides similar services, but didn’t enter ...