Stein Mitchell secures summary judgment for MeriCal in $50 million trade secrets case

The Stein Mitchell team successfully defended MeriCal LLC, a leading producer of dietary supplements, in a $50 million federal theft of trade secrets case. The case, brought in the Central District of California by a former competitor of MeriCal, baselessly accused MeriCal of misappropriating trade secrets for the production of vitamin gummy products. Stein Mitchell was initially able to secure a dismissal of the claim, without prejudice, and but plaintiffs amended the suit. After successfully obtaining bifurcated discovery, Stein Mitchell deposed the central plaintiff and secured case-killing admissions that led to the Court granting summary judgment in MeriCal’s favor, vindicating MeriCal's process and business practices against plaintiffs' meritless allegations. Partners Philip O’Beirne and Samantha Christensen led the Stein Mitchell team, with key contributions from associates Will Sinnott and Avi Wolasky. The case is Hoffman et al. v. Goli Nutrition, Inc. et al., No. 2:23-cv-06597-CAS-MAA (C.D. Cal.).