CINCINNATI -- Pure Romance is suing a former senior consultant who they allege stole trade secrets from them to start her own competing business.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court this week, Cincinnati-based Pure Romance wrote that Letty Brown, of Norfolk, Virginia, began working for them in 2014 as an independent contractor. The company gave her access to their “online consultant guide” and other materials to educate her about their business.
Pure Romance sells “adult intimacy products” through its website and contractors.
Brown “became an important player in Pure Romance’s success” and was promoted, according to the lawsuit. She recruited “down-line” consultants and received a percentage of their sales, and “obtained confidential and trade secret information” in strategy and sales meetings.
The lawsuit states Brown signed a consultant agreement which includes a one-year non-compete restriction. However, Brown ended her relationship with Pure Romance on Dec. 31, 2016 and formed her own company, DearXO, just days later on Jan. 4, according to the lawsuit. The suit includes a copy of a Facebook post showing someone in Brown’s name advertising her “new line” of products.
An attorney for Brown couldn’t immediately be contacted for comment.
Pure Romance accused Brown and DearXO of offering “many of the same products” they do on a website that resembles their own. The company wrote that Brown had a list of their vendors and pricing information and solicited the vendors to provide products for her new company.
Pure Romance is seeking more than $75,000 from Brown and DearXO in the lawsuit. Brown had not yet filed a response to the complaint. The case is ongoing.
