Breckan Law PLLC Case Update

JZK Inc. v. Virginia Coverdale

We appealed the June 2013 summary judgment ruling in favor of JZK, Inc.  The lower court's ruling found that, as a matter of law, Ms. Coverdale breached a contract which prohibits the release of "any information" participants learn while attending events at Plaintiff's facility.   We believe that allowing any for profit corporation to contractually bind its customers to secrecy violates public policy. Further, a company cannot bypass established trademark, copyright, and patent law to transform unprotected information into protected intellectual property via a clause in a boilerplate contract.

After two years of painstakingly making our way through the appeals wait list, Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals heard oral argument on September 11, 2015.

Breckan Scott presented on direct, and her co-counsel, Anthony Gipe, did an exemplary rebuttal argument.

A decision could be made at any time between now and several months from now.  Once a decision is made, we will update you on our blog.  In the meantime, feel free to follow recent WA Supreme Court and Appellate Court cases at:  https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/