Vitec Electronics v. Veris Industries CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

In these four consolidated appeals, we affirm an amended judgment, all of the posttrial orders with one exception, and an order granting summary adjudication. We reverse only, in part, a postjudgment order awarding attorney fees. In this business dispute between corporations, Vitec Electronic Corp. (Vitec) sued Veris Industries, LLC (Veris), Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider), and Pacific Transformer Corporation (PacTran) (Veris, Schneider, and PacTran are referred to collectively as Defendants). Vitec alleged that Veris and Schneider had breached three contracts, including a nondisclosure agreement, and that Defendants had misappropriated Vitec’s trade secrets. The trial court granted summary adjudication against Vitec on its breach of contract claims. Vitec’s misappropriation of trade secrets claim was tried to a jury. At trial, Vitec contended that Veris and Schneider had misappropriated six part drawings for a Vitec product and that PacTran had improperly acquired the part drawings and used them to design and manufacture a product to sell to Veris at a discounted price. The jury found in favor of Vitec and awarded it damages. Judgment was entered. The trial…