Asked by Michael Swihart on Jun 29, 2024

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Chad was the best private detective in the west. His system for tracking persons who have caused themselves to disappear was markedly superior to that of others. Sally, his only assistant, was considered so valuable that he always had her sign five-year contracts with non-disclosure clauses. Sally took notes at a private meeting between Chad and a representative of the RCMP who was negotiating a contract with Chad for tracking down two criminals. Sally and Chad took care that the discussions were understood to be confidential-regarding both the information from the RCMP and from Chad about his methods. Sally was approached by a competitor of Chad, Mr. Adolph, who offered her three times her salary if she would break her contract with Chad, sign with him, and bring him information about Chad's tracking system. After some months, she did just that. Furthermore, she told Adolph the details of the information given to Chad by the RCMP, which caused the RCMP embarrassment, time, and money. Which of the following is false?

A) Sally owes a fiduciary duty to Chad because of her trusted position as an employee.
B) Chad could sue Sally for breach of her employment contract, not only on the clause relating to the term of her employment, but also on the non-disclosure clause.
C) Chad could sue Adolph for the tort of inducing breach of contract.
D) The RCMP could not sue Chad for breach of confidence because the information disclosed by Sally was not novel know-how that was giving the RCMP the cutting edge in business competition.
E) Chad could sue Sally for disclosing the information only if he had made it clear that the information was confidential and should not be disclosed.

Non-disclosure Clauses

Legal provisions in a contract that prohibit the sharing of confidential information with unauthorized parties.

Fiduciary Duty

An obligation to act in the best interest of another party, such as the duty of a trustee towards their beneficiaries.

Breach Of Confidence

An unlawful disclosure of confidential information without the permission of the party that owns the information.

  • Comprehend the principle of fiduciary duty and its significance in relation to intellectual property and confidentiality matters.
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KW
Khalil WhitfieldJul 01, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
The RCMP could potentially sue Chad for breach of confidence because the confidentiality of the information does not depend on its novelty or its role in providing a competitive edge in business. The key issue is that the information was shared in confidence, and its unauthorized disclosure caused harm.