Abanco Int'l., Inc. v. Guestlogix Inc., __ F. Supp.2d __, 2007 WL 1492928 (N.D. Ill. May 21, 2007) (Bucklo, J.).
Judge Bucklo dismissed plaintiff's conspiracy claim but not its unjust enrichment and tortious interference claims, holding that the former was preempted by the Illinois Trade Secret Act ("ITSA"). Plaintiff alleged that it entered a business relationship with defendant, supported by a confidentiality agreement (the "Agreement"). The parties were working together to supply airlines with electronic "buy-on-board" systems that would allow passengers to pay for drinks and other in-flight purchases with credit cards. Plaintiff alleged that, based upon the Agreement, it provided defendant confidential, trade secret information about its buy-on-board system (the "Abanco System") and that with defendant's support, plaintiff entered negotiations to provide the Abanco System to third party American Airlines. But after the parties' relationship soured, American Airlines allegedly ended negotiations with plaintiff and entered an agreement with defendant for a buy-on-board system. Plaintiff then filed suit against defendant alleging trade secret misappropriation, breach of the Agreement, unjust enrichment, tortious interference and conspiracy. The Court held that plaintiff's unjust enrichment and tortious interference claims were not preempted by ITSA because they were based upon information protected by the Agreement in addition to plaintiff's alleged trade secrets. Specifically, plaintiff alleged that it gave defendant information "including information that was confidential, non-public, and proprietary and which constituted Abanco trade secrets." (emphasis added by the Court). But plaintiff's conspiracy claim was based solely upon defendant's and American Airline's use of information obtained from Abanco "constitut[ing] trade secrets belonging to Abanco." Because Abanco did not claim the conspiracy used any information other than its trade secrets, the conspiracy claim was preempted.
