In Local Marketing, Inc. v. Bennett, the Texas Business Court addressed a common dispute involving employees who depart a business to form a competing venture. In these cases, both the business and the departing employees may sue one another. This case provides insights into when a departing employee’s defamation counterclaim becomes subject to Texas’ anti-SLAPP law — the Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”) — and the consequences that may follow if the departing employee’s counterclaims cannot satisfy the TCPA’s evidentiary requirements.
Background
Local Marketing, Inc. (“Local”), a marketing company, sued several former executives and employees in Harris County District Court, alleging the defendants formed a competing marketing firm using its trade secrets and in breach of Local’s employment contracts. Local obtained a temporary restraining order with the court (a “TRO”) restraining the defendants from, among other things, soliciting Local employees and disclosing certain… Read the complete article here...
©2026 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.
