Fiorilli Construction Company, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against a former employee, accusing him of breaching confidentiality agreements and misappropriating trade secrets. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on February 20, 2026, targeting Jeff Karlovec and unidentified individuals referred to as John Does 1-10.
The plaintiff, Fiorilli Construction Company, claims that Jeff Karlovec, who previously served as their Director of Client Relations, violated his Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation & Non-Circumvention Agreement. According to the lawsuit, Karlovec downloaded confidential customer information onto his personal devices before resigning on February 4, 2026. Fiorilli alleges that this act constitutes a breach of contract and a violation of both state and federal trade secret laws. The company contends that the information taken by Karlovec is not publicly available and holds significant economic value due to its confidentiality.
Fiorilli’s legal action includes multiple counts against Karlovec. These include violations under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Ohio Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Additionally, they accuse him of breaching contractual obligations related to confidentiality and non-competition clauses. The construction firm argues that these breaches have caused irreparable harm by potentially transferring valuable business relationships to competitors. Fiorilli seeks injunctive relief to prevent further misuse of their trade secrets and confidential information.
The plaintiff is requesting several forms of relief from the court. They seek a temporary restraining order and various injunctions to enforce compliance with their agreement and relevant trade secret laws. Moreover, Fiorilli demands compensation for damages incurred due to these alleged breaches, including actual damages, unjust enrichment damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and other applicable remedies under federal and state statutes.
Representing Fiorilli Construction Company in this case is attorney Brian T. Winchester from McNeal Schick Archibald & Biro Co., LPA. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:26-cv-00426 but does not yet list a presiding judge.
Source: 126cv00426_Fiorilli_Construction_Company_v_Karlovec_Complaint_Northern_District_Ohio.pdf
