Alling

Universal Manufacturing Corporation (Universal) and its corporate successor, MagneTek, Inc., appeal from a judgment totalling $25.771 million entered following a jury verdict finding them liable to plaintiffs LMP Corporation (LMP), Stevens Luminoptics Partnership (SLP) and Calmont Technologies, Inc. (Calmont) for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, and interference with advantageous business relations. Because the trial court prejudicially erred in admitting certain critical evidence, we reverse the judgment entered in favor of LMP, SLP and Calmont and against Universal.

LMP, SLP and Calmont and William Ailing (Ailing) cross-appeal from an adverse judgment on their claims against Universal under the Cartright Act; and Alling appeals from a judgment in favor of Universal on his claim of wrongful termination of employment. In the unpublished part of this opinion we affirm this portion of the judgment entered in favor of Universal and against LMP, SLP, Calmont and Alling.

I

Factual Background

This litigation had its origin in the invention and development of an electronic ballast for fluorescent lighting systems. The…