MaxLite announced that it filed suit against ATG Electronics, a California-based LED lighting company, and James Steedly, Sophia Galleher and Matthew Kim, three former employees of MaxLite. The suit, filed on February 12, 2015, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

In its lawsuit, MaxLite alleges that its former employees breached their Proprietary Information Agreements with MaxLite and, together with ATG, improperly used MaxLite’s confidential and proprietary information, to, among other things, attempt to enhance ATG’s products, divert business to ATG, and solicit MaxLite’s customers and suppliers for the benefit of ATG. The confidential and proprietary information alleged to have been improperly used includes, but is not limited to, information relating to MaxLite’s product research and development, as well as its relationships with customers, representatives, vendors, and other service providers. The company further alleges that ATG impermissibly used MaxLite confidential and proprietary information it had obtained from the former MaxLite employees.

MaxLite is committed to the vigorous protection of its intellectual property and enforcement of its proprietary rights. Over the past 20 years, MaxLite has distinguished itself from the competition and emerged as a clear market leader in the LED lighting business in the United States and globally - a position it has achieved as a result of its cutting-edge product research and development activities.

“Whether it involves ATG, or any other company or individual, we will not tolerate violations of our Proprietary Information Agreements, IP rights or trade secrets,” said MaxLite General Counsel Zvi Raskin. “We will continue to take a strong stance against violators and will take all steps necessary to protect MaxLite’s confidential and proprietary information and know-how, painstakingly developed over more than two decades, and to ensure that such information and know how is not compromised.”