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Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc. v. Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc.Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc. v. Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Jun 29, 2010
Versions:74 A.D.3d 696
904 N.Y.S.2d 46

Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc., Respondent, v Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc., Appellant, et al., Defendants. [904 NYS2d 46]—Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Barbara R. Kapnick, J.), entered November 2, 2009, which, after a hearing, granted plaintiff‘s motion for a preliminary injunction as to that portion of the action asserting a claim for misappropriation of trade secrets in connection with certain software tools, unanimously affirmed, with costs.

Plaintiff met its burden for the grant of a preliminary injunction by demonstrating (1) a likelihood of ultimate success on the merits; (2) the prospect of irreparable injury if the provisional relief is withheld; and (3) a balance of the equities in its favor (Doe v Axelrod, 73 NY2d 748, 750 [1988]). Based upon the submissions and hearing testimony, particularly from plaintiff‘s expert witnesses, the court properly found that plaintiff had a protectable trade secret in the proprietary nature of its Q-Tech, Alpha Sources and PIT software and database structure (see Ashland Mgt. v Janien, 82 NY2d 395, 407 [1993]).

Although irreparable injury cannot be presumed (see Faiveley Transp. Malmo AB v Wabtec Corp., 559 F3d 110, 118 [2d Cir 2009]), it may be established “where there is a danger that, unless enjoined, a misappropriator of trade secrets will disseminate those secrets to a wider audience or otherwise irreparably impair the value of those secrets” (id.). Here, the court properly determined that plaintiff demonstrated that, without a preliminary injunction barring appellant from the continued use of its trade secrets, plaintiff “would likely sustain a loss of business impossible, or very difficult, to quantify” (Willis of N.Y. v DeFelice, 299 AD2d 240, 242 [2002]).

We have considered appellant‘s remaining arguments, including that the balance of the equities tipped in its favor, and find them unavailing. Concur—Andrias, J.P., Saxe, Friedman, Nardelli and Acosta, JJ.

Case Details

Case Name: Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc. v. Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc.
Court Name: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Date Published: Jun 29, 2010
Citations: 74 A.D.3d 696; 904 N.Y.S.2d 46
Court Abbreviation: N.Y. App. Div.
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