Semtech Files Claims Against Spark Connected, Ken Moore, Emanuel Stingu and Ruwanga Dassanayake
Claims Include Breach of Non-Competition Agreement and Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced
algorithms, announced that on November 16, 2018, it filed Counterclaims against Spark Connected, LLC (“Spark”) and three current
Spark employees who were formerly employed by Semtech:
Ken Moore
Emanuel Stingu
Ruwanga Dassanayake
Semtech alleges in its Counterclaims “a pattern of conduct in which Moore and Spark have improperly competed with Semtech,
solicited Semtech employees, encouraged them to retain and disclose Semtech’s confidential information and trade secrets, and used
such information and trade secrets to compete directly with Semtech in the wireless power market.” Semtech alleges the following
causes of action:
- Spark and each of the three former Semtech employees violated federal and state law by
misappropriating Semtech’s technical and business trade secrets related to wireless charging;
- Mr. Moore breached provisions of agreements he has with Semtech, including non-competition,
non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions;
- Messrs. Stingu and Dassanayake breached confidentiality provisions of agreements they have with
Semtech;
- Messrs. Moore, Stingu, and Dassanayake violated their fiduciary duties to Semtech; and
- Spark and Messrs. Moore and Stingu improperly interfered with Semtech’s contractual relations.
“Semtech intends to take all actions necessary to vigorously protect its intellectual property rights,” said Mohan Maheswaran,
Semtech’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
Those actions include seeking assistance from the Court. Shortly after Semtech filed its Counterclaims, on November 21, 2018,
Semtech also filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction that asks the Court to, among other things, stop Spark and Moore from
conducting business that unfairly competes with Semtech and stop Spark and Messrs. Moore, Stingu, and Dassanayake from doing any
further work that misappropriates Semtech’s trade secrets. Semtech submitted with that Motion a Declaration from a computer
forensics expert that describes the current results of his ongoing investigation.
The action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Case No. 4:18-cv-00748. Copies of
Semtech’s Counterclaims and its Motion for a Preliminary Injunction can be accessed here:
About Semtech
Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for
high-end consumer, enterprise computing, communications, and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering
community as well as the global community. The Company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the
environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and
designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol
SMTC. For more information, visit www.semtech.com.
Semtech and the Semtech logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Semtech Corporation or its affiliates.
Semtech Corporation
Ronda Grech, 805-250-1263
rgrech@semtech.com
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