WPC  a5ӂ^qpHU[i pRBۉm7=47ܒV2;zeB+fm>B2D{6l;RPiyu=$ Oۅ]04t1bMľ.xOy+Wn1}HftZ'7=7Qު?4]?\i;6,_'i4OAbT ;O]b~ [1O>n4bgxqpU%ή,ir)9gt)~m).tzQUf3U= 0< U6" X 0h # UN %M(NC^ EwQ4Ui mk 0q 0DObb B<6X9`(Courier' TREACY A crebbert0crebbert .   <SC:Default ParaS\  `&Times New RomanSC<6X9`(CourierC\  `&Times New Roman<:Footnote Ref<6X9`(Courier New#|x(rc]$..       ?2X XG ?2HP CLJ 5550DN PCL 60(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular Xu5 [4:i+00 U  $..       $X Xr $    3    _Atthehearing,thepartiesseemedtoagreethat_Breedlove_,havingbeen  confrontedwiththeallegations,statedthathewishedtoconsultwithcounsel m priortocontinuingthediscussion.Hethenleftthepremises.((3$ c]!..       $X Xr $      0  (#$  0   - - X $..       $X Xr $    1    _ԀrCHFiswhollyownedandcontrolledby_Performax_.#r#  $..       $X Xr $    2    _ԀrAtthehearing,Plaintiffscounselidentifiedthatamongthe others  wasPlaintiffsgeneralcounselaswellasoneofPlaintiffscounselinthis u litigation.#r# d c]!..       $X Xr $  _  XiXrXNXXXi8 $ dd8  CORPORATEHEALTHCARE*   p INTHE  FINANCING,INC.,ETAL.   X XB.` hp x (#XB    h   *   p CIRCUITCOURT v  X XE.` hp x (#X(#E  0 ` PlaintiffsY` (#` (# vs.    h   *   p FOR < Ѐ  o DANIELHARLAN_BREEDLOVE_ h   *   p HOWARDCOUNTY  R  E.` ` hp x (#X(#EDefendant   h   *   p CaseNo.13C0665007    E.` hp x (#` X(#E*********    3p x (#X(#3Q%MEMORANDUM T  <" ` p x (#X(#<  BeforetheCourtistherequestofthePlaintiffs,Corporate j  HealthcareFinancing,Inc.( CHF)and_Performax_,Inc. 0 ( _Performax_),toconductimmediatelimiteddiscoveryfromthe  Defendant,DanielHarlan_Breedlove_Ԁ( _Breedlove_),inadvanceofthe l regulartimeenvisionedbytheMarylandRules.Thediscovery 2 relatestoPlaintiffsMotionforPreliminaryInjunctionandits H claimofirreparableharmtotheirbusiness.Ahearingwasheldon  therequestonApril18,2006.    OnMarch27,2006,Plaintiffsfiledacomplaintforbreachof J certainprovisionscontainedinanemploymentagreement(the !`   Agreement)executedbetweenCHFand_Breedlove_.Plaintiffsclaim "&" that_Breedlove_,oneoftheirveteranemployees,misappropriated $$ theirtradesecrets,convertedtheirproperty,andviolatedthe b&!& confidentialityandnoncompeteprovisionsoftheAgreementby ((x#( compilingcertainofPlaintiffshighlyproprietaryand )>%* confidentialcustomerinformationandtransferringsuchinformation +', tohishomeorpersonalcomputer. z-(.L _  Plaintiffshaveallegedcountsofbreachofcontract,common  lawtradesecret,MarylandUniformTradeSecretsAct,and v conversion.Plaintiffsseekcompensatoryandpunitivedamagesin < atotalamountof$10,000,000.00aswellaspreliminaryand  R permanentinjunctivereliefenjoiningBreedlovefrom further   misappropriationandimproperdisclosureofPlaintiffstrade    secretsandotherconfidentialandproprietaryinformationand T   enjoiningDefendantfromdirectlyorindirectlycontacting, j  soliciting,marketing,sellingto,consultingwithorperforming 0 anyserviceswhatsoeverforanyPerformaxorCHFcustomer.  (Complaintat9). l   ThePlaintiffcorporations #  1      ׀provideservicesinthefieldof 2 selffundedemployeehealthbenefitsconsultingandadministration. H Theydesign,sell,manage,andadministercustomizedemployee  healthandbenefitplansforemployersacrossthecountry.  BreedlovewenttoworkforCHFinApril,1992,asitsDirectorof J ManagementServices,andlaterbecameasalesconsultant.Itis !`  allegedthathewasinvolvedinthedesignofclientplans,served "&" asthemaincontactforsomeoftheclientbase,andhadaccessto $$ proprietaryinternalinformationofthePlaintiffs. b&!&   Shortlybeforefilingthecomplaint,Plaintiffsdiscovered ((x#( thatbetweenMarch8andMarch16,2006,Breedloveemailedfivee )>%* mailswithattachmentsfromhisbusinessemailaccounttohishome  orpersonalemailaccount.Plaintiffsassertthattheattachments v are highlyconfidentialandproprietaryclientinformationor < otherinternaldataorinformationofasimilarconfidential  R nature.     AnaffidavitofJacobL.Canova,PresidentandChiefExecutive    OfficerofPerformax,statesthatupondiscoverythatBreedlovewas T  emailingsuchitemstohispersonalemailaccounts,heand j   others #  2      ׀metwithBreedlove.Canovastatesthatduringthis 0 meeting:  8  8`   ...Breedloveadmittedthathehadcopiedthe l informationaboutthePlaintiffsclientsand O brokersontospreadsheetsandsentthese 2 spreadsheetsandotherconfidentialand e proprietaryinformationtohispersonalemail H accountsothathecouldaccessthemathome + andthathehadcreatedanumberofdocuments  thatwereforwardedtothatemailaccount.  Breedlovefurtherconcededthatsuchactions  constitutedabreachofhisEmployment g Agreementandtheconfidentialityprovisions J containedtherein.Whenaskedtoretrieve - } thisinformationfromhispersonalemail !`  accountandtoshowPlaintiffswhetherthe !C! informationhadbeentransmittedtoothers, "&" BreedloveleftPlaintiffsofficeunderthe # # guisethathewouldthinkaboutitandreturn $$ toadvisePlaintiffs. #  3      % %` x` x Ї(CanovaAff.March30,2006,at4)    ItisundisputedthatBreedloveneverreturnedtohisplaceof v employment,andcounselagreethatheisnolongeremployedby < Plaintiffs.  R   ServiceofthecomplaintandsummonswereeffectedonMarch   30,2006.Asoftodaysdate,Breedlovehasnotrespondedtothe    complaint,buthehasrespondedtoPlaintiffsRequestfor T  ImmediateHearing.Healsoorallyrespondedatthehearingto j  PlaintiffsMotiontoShortenDefendantsTimetoRespondto 0 Discovery.    BreedloveassertsthatgrantinganyrelieftoPlaintiffsat l thisjuncturewould frustrateBreedlovesrighttoafull 2 adversaryhearingbeforetheentryofanorderthatcouldprejudice H Breedlovethroughoutthislitigation.(Def.sOppntoPls.Req.  forImmediateHrgat1)Moretotheimmediatepointbeforethis  Court,Breedlovestatesthathewouldconsenttothreeofthefive J itemsofinjunctivereliefrequested.Morespecifically,he !`  consentstoanorder: "&" 8  8`   (i)enjoininghimfromdisclosingPerformaxs $$ purportedlyconfidentialandproprietary % % information;(ii)requiringhimtoreturn b&!& Performaxspurportedlyconfidentialand E'"' proprietaryinformation;and(iii)enjoining ((x#( himfromcontacting,soliciting,marketing,  )[$) sellingto,consultingwithorperformingany )>%* serviceswhatsoeverforanyofthePlaintiffs *!&+ customerswithwhomhehadanycontactor +', aboutwhomhehasaccesstoanyconfidential  informationduringhisemployment.` x` x (Id.at34).Ӏ Y   AttheApril18thhearing,counselforBreedloveconsentedto  o theentryofaorderastothesepointsregardlessofhowtheCourt  5 mayruleontheremainingissues.      Throughdiscussionswithcounsel,theremainingrequestsfor q  immediatediscoveryhavebeendistilledto:(i)Plaintiffsrequest 7  foraccesstoBreedlovespersonalemailaccount;(ii)accessto M  Breedlovespersonalcomputerharddriveinordertodiscoverthe  fateoftheemailsandattachments;and,(iii)adepositionof  Breedloveaimedatdiscoveringwhatuse,ifany,hehasmadeofthe O businessinformationhetransferredtohispersonalcomputer. e   Plaintiffsassertthattheywillcertainlyobtainaccessto + thisinformationduringnormaldiscoveryandthattodelaytheir  accesstosuchinformationcouldhaveseriouseffectsontheir g business.Theyarguethatiftheinformationaboutclientsor - } businessmethodsreachtheircurrentorpotentialcompetitors, !C! irreparableharmwouldbedone,giventhehighlycompetitivenature # # ofthisfield.Iftheinformationhasalreadybeendisseminatedto % % others,Plaintiffswishtotakeimmediatestepstocontainthe E'"' damage.Intheirview,waitingweeksormonthsfornormal  )[$) discoveryprocesseswillonlymagnifythedamageandperhapsmake *!&+ containmentimpossible.    Breedlovearguesthatgrantingtherequestedreliefamountsto v anaffirmativereliefrequestratherthanmeremaintenanceofthe < statusquo,andthataccesstoBreedlovespersonalemailaccount  R isanunwarrantedintrusion.Healsoarguesthathiswifehasan   interestinthehomecomputerandthatsheisnotapartytothis    litigation,andthattakinghisdepositionearlywouldprejudice T  himinpreparingadefense. j    ThisCourthasnodoubtthatitmay,intheappropriatecase, 0 orderimmediatediscoverywhereapartymakesoutasubstantial  caseofharmandwheretheopposingpartywouldnotbeunduly l harmedorprejudiced.See,e.g.,Jasinoverv.TheRouseCompany, 2 2004WL2747382(Md.Cir.Ct.);Quotient,Inc.v.Toon,2005MDBT H 10(Md.Cir.Ct.).Inthiscase,Plaintiffshavemadeastrong  showingbyaffidavitandexhibitsthatBreedlovetransferredsome  confidentialorproprietaryinformationtohishomecomputer J throughhispersonalemailaccount.Italsoappearsthatthere !`  wasnolegitimatebusinessreasonforhishavingdoneso,given "&" thathisbusinessemailaccountandhisbusinesscomputercouldbe $$ accessedbyhimathomeorotherlocations.Italsoappearsthere b&!& isevidencethatinMarch,Breedlovecommunicatedconfidential ((x#( informationtoamemberofthenewsmedia,andthathemayhave )>%* distributedaconfidentialmemofromMr.Canovatoacompetitorof +', PlaintiffsandtoapersonwhoisawitnessagainstthePlaintiffs  infederalcourtlitigation.(Pls.ReplytoDef.sOppntoReq. v forImmediateHrgat45).ItisalsonoteworthythatBreedlove < hasnotofferedanalternativeexplanationforhisactions,even  R throughproffersbycounsel.     Thereisnodoubtthatthereareverylegitimateprivacy    concernsforbothBreedloveandhiswiferegardingaccesstothe T  homecomputerandtohispersonalemailaccount.Ontheother j  hand,givenwhattheCourthasheardsofar,itishardtoconclude 0 thatdiscoveryregardingtheMarchemailswillnothavetobe  providedeventually,sinceitiscoretoPlaintiffsclaims. l Acceleratingthisdiscoverywillnotcauseagreaterinvasionof 2 privacy,butmerelyallowtheneededdiscoverysomewhatearlier H thannormallyrequired.Itisalsorelevantthatidentifyingand  segregatingthedataatissueearlywillpreventanyspoliationor  corruptionoftheevidence,evenofanunintentionalnature,that J mayoccurthroughsimplecontinualusageofthehomecomputer.(#(#K(# !`    PlaintiffscounselassuredtheCourtatthehearingthatin "&" discussionswithBreedlovescounselpriortothehearing,they $$ haveworkedoutasatisfactorycomputerforensicprotocoland b&!& protectiveorderthatwillprovideaccessforPlaintiffswithout ((x#( undulyinvadingtheprivacyconcernsofBreedloveandhisspouse, )>%* shouldtheCourtgrantthereliefrequested. +',   Onbalance,theCourtfindsthatPlaintiffshavepresented  sufficientgroundstoobtainlimiteddiscoveryatthistime. v However,theexpediteddiscoveryshouldbelimitedtothefive < Marchemailsandattachments.Atthisjuncture,thereisnoneed  R toprovideaccesstothepersonalemailaccountfortheperiod   priortoMarch8,2006,thedateofthefirstemailthat    Plaintiffsareabletoestablish.Plaintiffsshouldhaveaccessto T  anyindicationthattheseemailsortheirattachmentswere j  forwarded,filed,deleted,copiedorotherwiseacteduponbyanyone 0 sincethatdate.Similarly,theyshouldatthisjuncturehave  accesstothecomputerharddrive,butonlytothedegreethatthe l harddrivemightreflecttheMarchemailsortheattachmentsin 2 anyfashionorformat. H   Finally,anexpediteddepositionofBreedlovewillbeallowed,  butagainlimitedtotheactionstakenregardingtheMarchemails  andtheattachmentsthereto.CounselforBreedlovehasindicated J thatafulldepositionwouldbeunfairatthisjuncturesince !`  Breedlove,facingadamageclaimforupto$10,000,000.00,should "&" haveampletimetopreparetodefend.WhiletheCourtissensitive $$ tothisconcern,Breedlovehasacknowledgedthathedidsendthee b&!& mailsandattachmentstohishomecomputer,apracticethatisat ((x#( leastunusualandapparentlynotauthorizedbystandardpracticein )>%* Plaintiffsbusiness.Giventhis,theCourtbelievesthecompeting +', interestsarebesthandledbycontainingthedepositionatthis  earlypointtothemechanicsoftheMarchemails.Inotherwords, v Breedlovemaybeaskedaboutwhathedidwiththeemails,whohe < sentorforwardedthemto,whetherhemadeanyelectronicorpaper  R copiesorfilesofthemortheirattachments,whetherhediscussed   theemailsortheattachmentswithanyoneandthecontentofthose    discussions,andotherquestionsspecificallyrelatedtothefate T  oftheemails,theattachments,ortheinformationcontained j  therein.SuchascopewillallowthePlaintiffstotrackthetrail 0 oftheemailsandtheattachmentsandtodeterminethedegreeto  whichtheirconcernaboutunauthorizedaccesstobusiness l informationhasbeenrealized,butthisscopewillnotrequire 2 Breedlovetoprematurelyexplainanyjustificationsorrationales H hemayhaveforhisactions.Thiscanawaitalaterdate.    CounselshallprepareanOrderconsistentwiththis  Memorandum. J N.` hp x (#` X(#NApril19,20060 0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#򀀀 !C! ЀDennisM.Sweeney"&"(#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#JUDGE# #(#(#    ` CopiesMailed򀀀 ((x#( (ServiceListOnFollowingPage) )>%*   *!&+ Copiesto: v WardB.Coe,III,Esq. < StevenE.Tiller,Esq.  o DwightW.Stone,II,Esq.  R KristinP.Herber,Esq.  5 Whiteford,Taylor&Preston,LLP   SevenSaintPaulStreet    Baltimore,MD21202    AndrewJayGraham,Esq. T  StuartM.G.Seraina,Esq. 7  Kramon&Graham,P.A. j  OneSouthStreet M  Suite2600 0 Baltimore,MD212023201