Thola v. Henschell

*76¶1

Quinn-Brintnall, J.

This case requires that we address whether a future employer can be vicariously liable for the unlawful conduct of a future employee and the extent to which the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA)1 preempts common law actions based on acts of trade secret misappropriation.

¶2 After working at Mary Jo Thola’s Bonney Lake clinic for two and a half years, chiropractor Alta Mahan decided that she did not want to purchase Thola’s practice and began looking for a job at another chiropractic clinic nearby. In November 2002, Mahan agreed with Martin Henschell that she would begin…