Firm suing former staff

Two entrepreneurs in Mid Wales are being sued by their former employer over allegations of poaching staff and misusing confidential information.

Supreme Creations is suing Vivian Lacey-Johnson, its former executive director, and Sarah Lacey-Johnson, its former executive operations manager, both of Pentreheylin Salt War, Newbridge, Llanymynech.

The company, a promotional products company whose factory makes cotton bags, tea towels and aprons, has accused them of unlawfully starting a rival company, misusing confidential information, poaching staff, and encouraging staff to remove £150,000 worth of equipment.

Supreme, which has a turnover of £2 million and claims it has lost profits of about £500,000 a year, is also suing the firm the pair set up, Clever Baggers.

It is also taking action against former employees Helen Balmer, Tom Sternbauer, Nick Zimbler, William Contestabile, and Julie Pillow, who allegedly left Supreme without notice to join the new firm, effectively preventing Supreme from continuing in Welshpool.

According to the High Court writ, the Lacey-Johnsons left in April last year to set up, Clever Baggers, on the Severn Farm Industrial Estate, within 500m of Supreme's factory.

The writ says the Lacey-Johnsons had signed agreements in April 2002 not to take part in any venture which competed with Supreme Creations for five years.

Supreme is seeking injunctions banning the two from working in a competing business and from disclosing or misusing its confidential information. A date for the hearing has yet to be set.