FRAMINGHAM (02/22/2000) - New York-based McGraw-Hill Cos. has filed a lawsuit against Buildingteam.com and its principal owner, Cahners Business Information in Newton, Mass., alleging the company misappropriated confidential and proprietary business information and engaged in unfair business practices.
The lawsuit was filed Feb. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
In a statement, McGraw-Hill said it had uncovered a "repeated and systematic scheme" that was allegedly carried out by the sales manager of Buildingteam.com, who "surreptitiously" obtained confidential and proprietary business information and trade secrets from McGraw-Hill's Sweet's division.
McGraw-Hill said Sweet.com, a provider of information to the construction industry, competes directly with Cahners' Buildingteam.com.
In the lawsuit, McGraw-Hill said Cahners employee Robert Corcoran conspired with a Sweet's administrative assistant, Patrice Wahl - who has since been terminated - to obtain McGraw-Hill's business information.
Tom Nutile, a Cahners spokesman, said his company began an internal investigation into the matter after it was advised by McGraw-Hill of the alleged misconduct by the Buildingteam.com employee. He said he expected the investigation to be completed soon.
"We have cooperated in every way with McGraw-Hill, so we are mystified and amazed that they are attempting to turn this into a court proceeding," Nutile said. "We will continue to look into the facts, and we will take appropriate action if warranted depending on those facts. Cahners does not tolerate conduct such as that which has been alleged. In any event, we do not believe this needs to be resolved in court."