A federal jury has awarded Livonia, MI-based Valassis $16.6 million in damages and lost profits in the marketing services company’s two-year-old lawsuit against rival sampler The Sunflower Group. A Michigan judge will now rule on the verdict.
The suit charged Overland Park, KS-based Sunflower with misappropriation of trade secrets through contact with employees at Valassis’ Mexicali, Mexico, fulfillment center (April 1999 PROMO). The jury found Sunflower liable. “We believed that this was a serious matter from the outset. After hearing all the facts, the jury obviously agreed,” a Valassis spokesperson said in a statement.
Valassis is requesting that U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts enter a judgment on the verdict, which could total $20 million when interest is added. “We are very confident the verdict will be upheld,” said the Valassis spokesperson.
Sunflower ceo Dennis Garberg says his company “did nothing wrong. We’re still hoping that justice will prevail.” Sunflower can file post-trial motions before Judge Roberts enters a judgment on the jury verdict.
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