In one recent case, a sales manager sued his former employer for accessing files on his personal computer.

The sales manager used his own laptop at work. His boss suspected he was stealing company secrets with the intention to start his own competing company.

So the supervisor removed the computer’s hard drive to see what was being stored. It turned out the employee had been inappropriately tracking the company’s sales data and product information. He was fired.

But the employee sued, alleging an invasion of privacy. He claimed the boss had no right to break into his computer in the first place. It was his personal laptop, and it also contained his own personal financial data.

The case went before a jury, and the employee was awarded $17.5 million from the company.

The company has also filed a countersuit against the employee for taking the data (as it turned out, he did start a competing business). But that case has yet to be decided.

Cite: Trealoff, et al. v. Forest River, Inc., et al.