Hamptons Online v. Florio [1]

On April 27, 2010 Hamptons Online, LLC sued Robert Florio (its former manager), VUE Master Media (the publishing company employing him) and several other former employees for, among other claims, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition. Hamptons Online publishes a website on "lifestyle and entertainment information relevant to those who live, work and vacation in the Hamptons" along with a similar site for the North Fork community in Long Island, NY.

According to the complaint, the defendant Robert Florio was Hamptons Online's sole manager from July 2000 through September 2009. At some point before he was terminated, he "made and took possession of unauthorized copies of electronic information stored on Hamptons Online's password-protected computers and servers," including the source code for the Hamptons and North Fork websites and trade secrets, which included contact information for Hamptons Online's advertising clients. (Complaint ¶ 34).

Also according to the complaint, following termination Florio created and became a member of VUE Master Media, LLC, which hired Hamptons Online's employees, including defendants Bellini, Aurichio, Cross, and Capone. (Complaint ¶¶ 40-45). VUE Master Media launched websites for the Hamptons and the North Fork of Long Island in direct competition with Hamptons Online's websites, and which use Hampton Online's proprietary source code, according to the complaint (¶ 49).