On February 23, 2024, in a scathing, ten-page decision, U.S. Senior District Judge Stefan R. Underhill of the District of Connecticut granted LPGM’s motion for a temporary restraining order against an independent contractor filed on behalf of its client, a provider of online resources for moms and families catering to hyper-local markets across the country. The request for a TRO followed a weeks’ long dispute over access to the client’s Instagram Account and its 40,000 followers.
LPGM’s client had provided the independent contractor with access to the Instagram Account as part of a contractual arrangement by which she would promote and advertise both local and nation-wide businesses of interest to busy moms through social media channels. When the independent contractor decided to first, lock LPGM’s client out of the Instagram Account and run it as if it were her own, and then, start up her own competing Instagram Account, including use of the client’s trademarked branding and in breach of the parties’ contract, LPGM sought court intervention through an emergency motion for injunctive relief. Following two hearings, the Court found that the client faced irreparable harm and granted the requested relief, and the independent contractor was ordered to cease and desist and return the client’s intellectual property.
LPGM’s commercial litigators regularly represent businesses in matters involving misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, unfair competition, breach of contract, breach of restrictive covenants, breach of fiduciary duties and other business disputes between parties in various industries.
Contact: LPGM Partners, Robert A. Giacovas, rgiacovas@lpgmlaw.com and Lainie E. Cohen, lcohen@lpgmlaw.com; LPGM Associate, Christina Dellaporte, cdellaporte@lpgmlaw.com.
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