Bayer Can Advance Suit Accusing Ex-Worker of Stealing Secrets

Bayer AG‘s U.S. unit can move forward with a lawsuit alleging a former employee stole trade secrets and confidential business information.

Judge Stephen Clark of the Eastern District of Missouri denied ex-worker Hai Zeng’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the company sufficiently alleged the existence of trade secrets, the misuse of them and the resulting damages.

The July 31 ruling shows options companies have when they want to pursue people they believe have misused proprietary data. Bayer accuses Zeng of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 and the Missouri Computer ...