Thomas J. Rechen

High net worth individual—Appellate win

Secured a victory for a high net worth individual as plaintiff/appellant in a second appeal concerning an underlying arbitration decision involving a prenuptial agreement. Following an adverse decision in the trial court denying her motion to open the judgment in her marital dissolution action on the basis of fraud, we filed our first appeal in 2020 and, in 2021, the appellate court reversed the trial court’s decision and remanded the matter for a probable cause hearing regarding the fraud. The trial court then denied our client’s motion to open the marital dissolution judgment after finding no probable cause that the underlying martial dissolution action was procured through fraud. We appealed the trial court’s probable cause decision and, for the second time, the appellate court ruled in our favor. Specifically, the appellate court determined that we presented evidence that satisfied the probable cause standard that the underlying marital dissolution action was based on fraud and, as a result, remanded the case with the direction to open the judgment for the limited purpose of allowing further discovery in conjunction with our client’s claim of fraud. 

Healthcare Executive—Trade Secret Litigation

Represented a corporate CEO accused of downloading business plans, marketing strategies, confidential customer contracts, pricing models, financials, and other confidential information, with plans to take and use such information for new employer.

Private University—Internal investigation 

Advised Board of Directors in connection with qui tam/potential whistleblower lawsuit related to federal fraud claims, including review of several million documents and interview of dozens of witnesses.

Healthcare Executive—Representation of minority interests

Represented a corporate CEO in executive severance compensation and LLC membership dispute and valuation matter, leveraging the threat of minority oppression and breach of fiduciary duty claims to maximize resolution in favor of client.

Telecommunications Industry—Breach of contract and successor liability claims

Defended affiliated companies against claims arising out of successive asset acquisitions giving rise to claims that acquiring companies were liable for pre-acquisition litigation liabilities arising from breach of telecom service supply contract.

Manufacturing company—Defense of exclusive license and royalty claims

Defended and favorably settled in the Southern District of New York following 7 days of trial before a jury of claims for breach of exclusive license and non-payment of royalties.

Financial software manufacturing company—Trade secrets litigation

Prosecuted trade secrets claims arising out of theft of source code and confidential business and marketing information in the Connecticut Complex Litigation Docket resulting in highly favorable multi-million dollar settlement.

Equipment services company—Restrictive covenant matter

Defended and favorably settled in the District of Connecticut non-compete and confidentiality claims involving former employee of a competitor who left to join our client.

Marine supply company—Subrogation case

Defended marine supply company as the defendant/counterclaimant in a District of Connecticut subrogation case stemming from the alleged engine failure on plaintiff/policyholder’s yacht. 

Investment manager; break-up of LLC—Jury trial

Prosecuted claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing in Connecticut Complex Litigation Docket resulting in five week jury trial and multi-million dollar jury verdict for full amount of claimed damages, attorneys' fees, and offer of judgment interest.

Manufacturing company—Trade secrets litigation

Prosecuted claims for violations of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act in the Eastern District of New York on behalf of a subsidiary of a global manufacturing company resulting in a temporary restraining order and settlement restoring contract rights to manufacture engineered electrical cabinet for data centers around the country. 

Landowner—Easement dispute

Defended and favorably settled easement claims regarding access to Long Island Sound in the Connecticut Complex Litigation Docket, resulting in extinguishment of alleged easements and preservation of valuable private property rights.

Nutritional supplement manufacturer—USTPO defense

Successful defense in the Central District of California following trial of inequitable conduct claims arising out of proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.