Date: 08-15-2002

Case Style: State Farm Insurance Company v. John W. Wier and Richard L. Pyorre

Case Number: Unknown

Judge: Richard Henderson

Court: Superior Court, Mendocino County, California

Plaintiff's Attorney: George Yuhas, Steven A. Brick, Rebecca B. Bond and Sean Lincoln of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, San Francisco, California and Thomas S. Brigham, Ukiah, California

Defendant's Attorney: William P. Tedards, Jr., Washington, D.C., Wallace C. Doolittle, Hayward, California and Ryan F. Perkins of Britt & Perkins, Ft. Bragg, California

Description: State Farm Insurance Company brought suit against two former agents for using customer lists to solicit business previously written by the agents when they were associated with State Farm. John Wier and Richard Pyorre both terminated their relationships with State Farm and became associated with Mercury Insurance Group. State Farm sued them claiming misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of a covenant not to complete. The agents counterclaimed for tortious interference and bad faith breach of contract.

Outcome: Defendants' verdict on the counterclaims for $12.6 million including $6 million in punitive damages.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None