Technology Clients Dismissed in Dallas County Commercial Dispute
March 6, 2020 (Dallas, TX) – Douglas Simek and Robert Gilbreath won summary judgment on behalf of two defendants in a case where Hawkins Parnell & Young’s clients Pulsar Inc. and Keith Liljestrand were sued by Miiddle Inc., a marketing and technology company. The parties were previously business partners that provided legacy technology services to wireless carriers in the United States and abroad. Pulsar and Liljestrand provided call-insertion technology and services and Miiddle was to provide marketing and investor commitments for marketing. Miiddle went out of business in early 2018 and sued Pulsar and Liljestrand for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, misappropriation of intellectual property, and tortious interference with a contract in Dallas County. Miiddle alleged that it owned software associated with its technology and that Pulsar and Liljestrand launched a competing company to Miiddle with two former marketing employees of Miiddle who were terminated by Miiddle when the business failed.
Defendants denied all of Miiddle’s allegations and filed a no-evidence motion for summary judgment based upon Miiddle’s failure to prove any damages alleged to be in excess of $15 million dollars. In addition, Defendants filed a traditional motion for summary judgment denying the misappropriation of software claim, motion to exclude all evidence of plaintiff’s damages, and motion for directed verdict dismissing the lawsuit. Doug orally argued the motions. Judge Tonya Parker granted all three motions, dismissing Hawkins Parnell & Young’s clients.