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ARTICLE · 29 NOVEMBER 2006

A Winter Chill For Data Crooks

Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
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Mishcon de Reya LLP

Mishcon de Reya LLP

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A landmark High Court case will send shivers down the spines of recruitment consultants who have considered taking their employer's database with them to another company.

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Dan Morrison
Dan Morrison
Hugo Plowman
Hugo Plowman

A landmark High Court case will send shivers down the spines of recruitment consultants who have considered taking their employer's database with them to another company.

In the case of Hays Specialist Recruitment (Holdings) Limited & Another v (1) James Parks, (2) Christopher Bell and (3) Specialists On Site Limited (November 2006) a High Court Judge sentenced a former recruitment consultant of Hays Construction & Property to 14 days in prison arising from his theft of Hays' candidate and client lists. Following pleas in mitigation, the Judge agreed to suspend the prison sentence for six months, although the former employee was warned that it would be activated if further breaches occur during this period. The Judge also gave Judgement in Hays' favour, ordering the Defendants to pay Hays substantial costs within 14 days and an award for damages on top of this to compensate Hays for its loss.

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