ST. LOUIS - Meridian E-Commerce Inc. and its subsidiary Universal E-Commerce Inc. filed suit recently in federal court for alleged violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
According to documents filed on March 22, defendants Stephen Puchalsky, Amy Dobelmann and Gapp Group LLC are competitors. Puchalsky is co-founder and head of sales and marketing at Gapp, and Dobelmann is listed as head of client success.
The defendants as well as other leadership in Gapp are former employees of the plaintiff. They are accused of conspiring against Meridian to be in direct competition with the plaintiff, including fraudulently stealing and utilizing confidential information and trade secrets to Gapp's competitive advantage.
The defendants allegedly failed to follow a cease and desist in response to their restrictive covenant violations.
Gapp and its founders are charged with violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of the Missouri Trade Secrets Act, breach of duty of loyalty, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract and business expectancy, unjust enrichment, conversion and civil conspiracy.
The plaintiff is represented by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart PC of St. Louis.