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Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
PHILADELPHIA—Aon eSolutions Inc. has sued risk management technology provider Riskonnect Inc. and three former Aon employees for alleged misappropriation of confidential information and unfair competition.
The lawsuit filed by Aon Corp.'s risk management technology unit alleges that before three former Aon employees resigned and accepted positions with competitor Riskonnect in May, they “copied and removed, without authorization, Aon computer files containing trade secrets and/or confidential business information for the apparent purpose of using information to solicit business for Riskonnect,” the complaint says.
Aon also alleges Riskonnect encouraged or condoned the unauthorized activity and will benefit from unfair competition.
“It's a little surprising that this large competitor is trying to take us on,” said Kelly M. Barton, vp of marketing at Riskonnect, who also noted that the company had not yet seen the complaint last week.
Ms. Barton noted that Riskonnect has confidentiality and noncompete agreements with its own employees and expects employees joining from other companies to honor their own agreements.
“Of course, we don't know all the facts that they're alleging yet, but from what we have seen and understand, we can't imagine that there's any basis for it and we will absolutely defend Riskonnect and these three employees for their right to work at a market-leading company,” Ms. Barton said.
Chicago-based Aon declined to comment.
Aon seeks injunctive relief and damages against the three employees and Riskonnect for wrongful activities, according to the suit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.