The owner of a famed Chicago popcorn business alleges in a federal lawsuit that a fired, former worker stole its secret recipes.
CaramelCrisp, owner of Garrett Popcorn Shops, filed the federal lawsuit Monday against Aisha Putnam, one of three people the company says knows the recipes for its popcorn. The company says Putnam served as the director of research and development for about four years and copied 5,400 files to a USB drive before being fired.
The lawsuit contends release of Garrett's secret recipes, formulas and other trade secrets "would be severely detrimental" to its business and "cause irreparable harm."
Putnam's attorney, Uche Asonye, says his client did not spread any of Garrett's trade secrets and has returned or deleted the files in question.
The company said in the lawsuit it will suffer harm until the court bars Putnam from using, possessing or benefiting from the trade secrets.
