Papa John’s exec out pending Panera secrets suit

[TexasTowelie]

Panera will likely prevail in its case against Papa John’s in its claim the pizza giant stole a high ranking executive and architect of the digital technology that speeds delivery to consumers, according to a federal judge.

In an Aug. 3 court order, Judge John Ross barred former Panera executive Michael Nettles, at least for now, from working for Louisville-based Papa John’s Pizza.

The lawsuit asserts Papa John's hiring of Nettles violated an industry noncompete agreement. The judge said both companies "target a so-called 'clean ingredient consumer,'" and therefore "are direct competitors in the realm of carryout options for such a consumer base."

“The court is satisfied that Panera is likely to succeed on the merits of several of its claims, including its request for enforcement of the confidentiality and non-competition agreement,” Ross said in the order.

Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/money/companies/2016/08/13/papa-johns-exec-out-pending-panera-secrets-suit/88673140/

[Sherman A1]

1. What I find interesting in cases like this

is the hubris of a company the size of Papa John's thinks that they will get away with something so blatantly silly. Possibly they might believe that any settlement will be less expensive in the long run, but they have to know that the other party will take action against them.