Cypress Semiconductor Corp. v. Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.


(California Court of Appeal) – Award of attorney fees to defendant in an underlying action for misappropriation of trade secret by seeking to hire away plaintiff’s employees, is affirmed where: 1) the trial court’s findings are free of procedural error; 2) the finding of plaintiff’s bad faith is amply supported by evidence that defendants did no more than attempting to recruit the employees of a competitor, which they are entitled to do under California state law; and 3) defendant prevailed when plaintiff dismissed the suit to avoid an adverse determination on the merits.