LONGVIEW,\nTexas \u2013 A Texas appellate court has affirmed a trial court\u2019s ruling in an\nemployment contract lawsuit by oil and gas services company Ma-Tex Wire Rope\nCompany, Inc. against a former employee and his new employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\npanel of judges including Chief Justice Josh R. Morriss III of the Sixth Court\nof Appeals in Texarkana affirmed the trial court\u2019s decision against Samuel D.\nOrbison and American Piping Inspection, Inc. (API) over a violation of his\nnon-compete, non-disclosure and non-solicitation agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nlawsuit stems from Mr. Orbison\u2019s employment contract as Ma-Tex\u2019s coordinator of\nthe company\u2019s recertification department. Ma-Tex claimed Mr. Orbison violated\nhis agreement when he resigned in August 2016 to work in the same role for its\ncompetitor API. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\ncompany filed a lawsuit against Mr. Orbison and API after both failed to abide\nby a cease-and-desist letter. According to the lawsuit, Mr. Orbison solicited\nrecertification work from Ma-Tex customers, while sharing the company\u2019s trade\nsecrets and proprietary information with API. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Originally\nheard in County Court at Law No. 2 in Gregg County, the trial court issued a\npermanent injunction prohibiting Mr. Orbison from competing with Ma-Tex for\nfive years, and ruled Ma-Tex was entitled to recover damages and attorneys\u2019 fees\nfrom Mr. Orbison and API. The case was appealed to the Sixth Court of Appeals,\nwhere the court affirmed the trial court\u2019s judgment while finding insufficient\nevidence to support the court\u2019s ruling granting damages for lost profits and\ngoodwill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ward,\nSmith & Hill attorneys Bruce Smith and Brett Miller represented Ma-Tex in\nthe trial, and Gregory D. Smith and Nolan Smith of Smith Legal PLLC handled the appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n