Connecticut Supreme Court Rules on Right to Jury in Trade Secrets Case

In Evans v. General Motors Corp., the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled, in a case of first impression in that state, that a plaintiff seeking damages under Connecticut's Uniform Trade Secrets Act had a right to trial by jury. Under its state consitutional analysis, the court ruled that because the cognate action in 1818 (the date of the adoption of the state's constitution) existed at common law and would have provided for trial by jury, a damages trial under the current statute also requires trial by jury.

The court examined the historical antecedents of the trade secrets statute, as well as cases from Georgia, Louisiana, and Washington which found that a jury trial was required.

The Hartford Courant has a story on the decision here.