Bracewell Obtains Trial Victory for Foro Energy

HOUSTON – In a trade-secret showdown over a deployment wheel concept used for offshore oil and gas decommissioning work, Bracewell LLP obtained a complete take-nothing, defense judgment on behalf of Foro Energy following a four-day bench trial in federal court. On January 4, US District Judge Keith Ellison of the Southern District of Texas sided with Foro, finding that the concept at issue was not a trade secret, that no misappropriation had occurred, and that Foro did not breach its non-disclosure agreement with plaintiff Vita International. Vita International, represented by Tony Buzbee and Peter Taaffe of the Buzbee Law Firm, had sought tens of millions of dollars in damages from Foro.