– TNA filed a lawsuit in Nashville, TN on Wednesday against WWE and former TNA/WWE office worker Brian Wittenstein for interference with existing contracts, conversion, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, unfair competition, and violation of the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secrets Act. They are also suing Wittenstein for breach of duty loyalty.
The lawsuit alleges that Wittenstein, who had worked for TNA previously, gave WWE inside information on contracts and other matters backstage within TNA, and now WWE is attempting to poach talent from TNA based off that information.
Wittenstein worked briefly under Michael Hayes when he was hired by WWE earlier this year before being let go in April. The lawsuit alleges that during this time period, Wittenstein provided WWE the inside information from TNA. However, WWE did not inform TNA that the information was provided for several weeks.
TNA claims that this information was presented on 5/7. Several days later, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair approached TNA management about being released from his contract. TNA alleges that Flair wanted out so he could return to WWE.
An injunction was issued earlier demanding that WWE & Wittenstein return whatever confidential information retained during his TNA tenure. They were both instructed not to destroy the material.
WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt commented to The Nashville City Paper: “Our reaction is that no good deed ever goes unpunished. What the WWE did here is what you would hope any company would do in these circumstances it found itself in.”
Source: PWInsider, Nashville City Paper
