Equate Media, Inc. v. Disha Virendrabhai Suthar

I. INTRODUCTION

On May 27, 2022, a jury found that Disha Virendrabhai Suthar, Varunkumar Suthar, and Prime Marketing, LLC (collectively, “Defendants”) had misappropriated trade secrets belonging to Equate Media, Inc., Budget Van Lines, Inc., Quote Runner, LLC, and Home Expert, Inc. (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) in violation of the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act (““CUTSA”). (ECF No. 157.) The jury awarded Plaintiffs $16,928,080.30 in damages. (/d.) On June 22, 2022, the Court granted judgment as a matter of law for Defendants, finding that Plaintiffs had failed to establish they possessed a valid trade secret during trial. (ECF No. 162.) Plaintiffs appealed, and on November 6, 2023, the Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded, ordering the Court to reinstate the jury verdict. (ECF No. 176.) On December 27, 2023, the Court reinstated the jury verdict. (ECF No. 179.) Presently before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for Permanent Injunction and Defendants’ Motion for New Trial or, in the Alternative, Reduction of Damages. (ECF Nos. 181, 191.) For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Motion and DENIES Defendants’ Motion. The Court begins with Defendants’ Motion.…