A lawsuit filed by a database service company against its founder appears to be winding down as the firm faces questions about its own survival.
Econometrics Inc. filed suit against its founder and former chairman Robert McGuire last January, alleging that he copied confidential customer files and violated a noncompete agreement. Sources said Econometrics is not an active company, and that the suit is moribund. However, the firm filed a default motion in federal court last month.
Rick Trenkmann, who reportedly serves as acting CEO of Econometrics, declined to comment or to discuss his role with the company. McGuire failed to return phone calls, as did attorneys for both sides in the dispute.
McGuire continues to own a minority interest in Chicago-based Econometrics, according to court papers.
The suit alleges that McGuire launched a competitive company, LogicLink, in 2001, then formed a joint venture with Cobalt Group Inc. and Acxiom Corp. The purpose was to provide “CRM solutions to the automobile industry, “according to legal papers.
Also named as defendants in the case are LogicLink, Acxiom Corp., Cobalt Group Inc., and Jesse F. Taggert, a former Econometrics executive who allegedly went to work for Acxiom.
Econometrics, which was founded by McGuire in 1991, ran into trouble in 2000 when William Blair pulled out of a plan to supply $9 million in capital, court papers state. McGuire resigned from the board later that year, and later signed on as a consultant with the company. According to court papers, then-CEO Wally Cornett started negotiating with Cobalt to form an agreement. McGuire participated in these talks, the papers state.
In May 2001, however, a press release came out announcing the agreement between LogicLink, Cobalt and Acxiom, the complaint continues.
The papers charge that McGuire solicited Econometrics clients: TWBA Chiat Day/Infiniti and Ameriquest.
The suit was switched from federal court to a local jurisdiction last March, but the September default motion was made in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois.
Econometrics seeks to bar Cobalt and Acxiom from continuing to do business with McGuire. It has also asked the court to appoint a receiver to handle monies resulting from the joint venture. The last apparent court activity was a request for a default judgment by Econometrics in September.
