Many companies in Florida and elsewhere may require new employees to sign a variety of agreements upon offering them a position of employment. These agreements may provide certain protections to both the employer and employee alike and there can be consequences to failing to uphold the terms of such arrangements. The Hershey Company has recently filed a lawsuit against a former executive accusing him of theft of trade secrets and violating the terms of his contract.

Hershey asserts that the company hired the man to act as president of one of its healthy snack divisions. The company states that upon accepting the position, he signed a contract stating that he would be required to pay back any sign-on bonuses should he resign from his position within two years. Before this period came to a close, Hershey asserts the man left the company to work for one of its competitors.

Prior to leaving to work for Kind LLC, Hershey claims the man started sending confidential company information to a private email account. The company has subsequently accused him of violating a confidentiality agreement and states that it is seeking restitution accordingly. Since the company claims he resigned before the end of two years and without notifying it of his intentions, Hershey is also seeking to be reimbursed for the $250,000 sign-on bonus.

Theft of trade secrets disputes can be highly complex and hotly contested matters and the outcome of such scenarios can have a significant impact on all parties involved. When facing a similar situation, a person in Florida could benefit from speaking with an attorney early on for advice on what to expect from the process and how best to prepare for what comes next. An attorney can work with a client in evaluating the situation thoroughly and assist in developing a plan to protect his or her legal rights and interests through the proper channels.