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Beecher Carlson alleges conspiracy, poaching

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Beecher Carlson alleges conspiracy, poaching

Beecher Carlson Holdings Inc. is suing two former employees, charging that they conspired to steal confidential Beecher data and lure away Beecher employees and clients when they quit to form a rival broker last year.

The suit, filed April 6 in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, names Atlanta-based Stern Risk Partners L.L.C. and founders Michael Stern and Mark Ouimette. Both formerly were managing directors of Beecher, a unit of Brown & Brown Inc.

According to the complaint, Messrs. Stern and Ouimette launched plans to form Stern Risk Partners last August. In October and November, they used USB flash drives to download confidential client and other data from Beecher computers, the suit alleges.

Before quitting suddenly on Nov. 5, they also deleted their emails and calendars and wiped their Internet browser histories, and Mr. Stern deleted all the data on his company-owned cellphone, Beecher alleges.

The brokerage also alleges the men recruited two other Beecher employees, who remained at Beecher until February. One of the recruited employees acted as an “undercover spy” and used flash drives to download confidential Beecher data, according to the suit, which alleges civil conspiracy, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets and other charges.

Beecher is seeking not only an injunction and compensatory and punitive damages, but also a court order transferring ownership of Stern Risk Partners to Beecher.

Messrs. Stern and Ouimette, who have not yet filed an answer to the complaint, could not be immediately reached for comment.

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