Foxtons has filed a legal claim against former lettings manager and operations director Tim Hassell alleging misuse of Foxtons’ confidential information.
The agent filed the claim in August only weeks after Hassell, who managed all lettings business in Kensington and Chelsea for Foxtons, and his husband Christopher Andrew launched a new lettings business concentrating on the
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 then took the information with him after his resignation with the intention to use it for unlawful purposes.
“Mr Hassell went on to misuse the confidential information for the purposes of establishing and obtaining business for an agency in competition with the claimant,” Foxtons claims.
The confidential information allegedly taken included information 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.
christian.metcalfe@estatesgazette.com
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