Foxtons has filed a claim against former lettings manager and operations director Tim Hassell alleging misuse of Foxtons’ confidential information.
The claim was filed in August only weeks after Hassell, who managed the Foxton’s lettings business in Kensington and Chelsea, and his partner Christopher Andrew launched a new lettings business concentrating on
That lettings business, Draker Ltd, and Andrew are also named as defendants in the claim.
Foxtons alleges that prior to his resignation in January 2010, Hassell “unlawfully copied its confidential information and took the information with him after he resigned with the intention of using it for unlawful purposes”.
It claims that “Mr Hassell went on to misuse the confidential information for the purpose of establishing and obtaining business for an agency in competition with the claimant.”
The information allegedly taken included data from Foxtons’ landlord’s database, “touting information”, computer screen prints and details of Foxtons’ terms and conditions used in letting properties.
Foxtons is claiming unspecified damages, delivery up of the documents and an injunction requiring the defendants not to have any further dealings with Foxtons’ clients.
A spokesperson for Hassell and Draker Ltd said that the claim was being defended but that in view of ongoing settlement negotiations no further comment could be given.
A Foxtons spokesperson said that it was “not in a position to comment” in view of the ongoing proceedings.
