Judge Upholds Verdict Against Empire Today

Boston, MA, June 6, 2011 -- A U.S. District Court judge upheld a jury verdict that denied claims made by Empire Today Inc. against a business competitor, National Floors Direct Inc., according to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

The judge also upheld the jury’s finding in favor of an abuse of process counterclaim by NFD and its award of $500,000, but rejected the company’s argument that it was also entitled to further damages.

Empire Today filed suit against NFD in December 2008 alleging tortuous interference with its contractual and business relationships, trademark infringement, false and misleading advertisement, and alter ego liability, the newspaper reported.

Empire also said that 10 managers and 30 sales reps had breached sales and confidentiality agreements after being lured by NFD to leave the company. Those claims were settled before the trial ended.

NFD asserted the lawsuit cost $1.5 million in legal fees; money that could have been spent on advertising that would have resulted in approximately $6 million in sales.