Joe Gibbs Racing lands major court win after suing | Sports News

A federal choose handed Joe Gibbs Racing a key early victory Monday in its escalating legal battle with former competitors director Chris Gabehart, issuing a restricted momentary restraining order tied to what the group has described as a “brazen scheme” involving proprietary information.

During a transient listening to within the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Judge Susan C. Rodriguez ruled that Gabehart might proceed working for Spire Motorsports as Chief Motorsports Officer, however he can’t carry out duties that overlap together with his former function at JGR.

The order additionally requires Gabehart to return any proprietary Joe Gibbs Racing supplies nonetheless in his possession.

JGR has alleged that Gabehart copied inside information and competitors information earlier than departing the group. Gabehart has acknowledged photographing sure inside paperwork however has denied sharing them.

“We are pleased with today’s ruling by the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina for a temporary restraining order enforcing the terms of our contract with Chris Gabehart,” Joe Gibbs Racing stated in a assertion.

“We will continue the legal process to protect our information and fight for what is right for our race team, our employees, and our partners.”

The choose declined to grant a broader restraining order that will have compelled Gabehart to step down from Spire fully. Instead, the court scheduled a March 16 listening to to deal with Joe Gibbs Racing’s movement for expedited discovery and a potential preliminary injunction. The crew has additionally been ordered to post a $100,000 bond whereas the case proceeds.

Gabehart and Spire management maintained that the ruling doesn’t alter his present duties.

Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson stated, “Spire takes trade secrets very seriously, and we’re a lot of things, but we’re not hypocrites. We don’t want anybody else’s stuff, other than Hendrick, obviously. We’re happy. The facts are the facts and I don’t have any ill will toward JGR.”

Joe Gibbs Racing has claimed it suffered more than $8 million in damages and contends there was a premeditated effort to disseminate confidential data. Judge Rodriguez famous that at this stage, proof of such conduct could be “speculative at best,” which factored into her determination to not impose a broader ban.

Gabehart, who spent 13 years with JGR and served six seasons as crew chief for Denny Hamlin, addressed the court concerning the breakdown in his relationship with the group.

“I notified JGR that the job was not, at all, as advertised. I was promised a COO-type role overseeing all competitive operations with autonomy to lead,” Gabehart stated. “Instead, I found myself constantly intertwined with Coach Gibbs, senior JGR executives and family members when making even routine competition decisions — a dysfunctional organizational structure that I could not continue in.”