Former Employee Accused of Breaching Non-Compete Agreement with Forensic Engineering Firm

SEA Ltd., a forensic engineering and investigations company, has filed a lawsuit against a former employee and his new employer for alleged breaches of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. The complaint was filed on December 9, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio by SEA Ltd. against YA Group and Ryan Grantham.

The lawsuit arises from Grantham’s departure from SEA to join YA Group, a direct competitor in the forensic engineering industry. SEA alleges that Grantham, who held a senior business development position at SEA, violated non-compete and non-disclosure agreements by joining YA Group in a similar role. According to the complaint, Grantham had access to SEA’s confidential sales strategies and client relationships during his tenure at the company. He is accused of using this proprietary information to benefit YA Group after his departure.

SEA claims that Grantham attended industry events on behalf of YA Group, leveraging relationships he developed while at SEA. The complaint states that Grantham solicited SEA’s clients and used confidential information stored on his personal cellphone for competitive advantage. Furthermore, it alleges that YA Group knowingly hired Grantham despite being aware of his contractual obligations with SEA.

SEA is seeking monetary damages for actual loss and unjust enrichment resulting from the defendants’ actions. Additionally, they are requesting injunctive relief to prevent further breaches of contract by Grantham and interference by YA Group. The relief sought includes requiring both defendants to return any business information belonging to SEA and ceasing employment or solicitation activities that violate existing agreements.

The legal representation for SEA Ltd. includes attorneys John W. Hofstetter from Littler Mendelson P.C.’s Cleveland office and Paul J. Kennedy from their Washington D.C. office as trial counsel. The case is identified under Case No.: 2:25-cv-01439-SDM-KAJ with no judge currently assigned.