J. Cathell, Inc. v. Martin et al, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-05039-LMM (N.D. Ga., Dec. 21, 2022)

An Atlanta-based influencer, J. Cathell, who maintains around 130,000 followers on Instagram, is suing her former employee for trade secret violations.

The Plaintiff alleges that while her former employee worked for her, the former employee contemporaneously began a similar fashion and lifestyle social media account. In particular, the Plaintiff alleges that the Defendant tapped into proprietary and confidential “formulas to design social media posts and curate outfits” to create her own, competing social media accounts. Complaint, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-05039-LMM, at 6 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 21, 2022). The suit alleges multiple counts for trade secret violation and misappropriation under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Georgia Trade Secrets Act, as well as willful infringement of trade dress under the Lanham Act.

The case has been assigned to Judge Leigh Martin May.