Medidata Solutions, Inc. v. Veeva Systems Inc.

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedFebruary 9, 2021
Docket1:17-cv-00589
StatusUnknown

This text of Medidata Solutions, Inc. v. Veeva Systems Inc. (Medidata Solutions, Inc. v. Veeva Systems Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Medidata Solutions, Inc. v. Veeva Systems Inc., (S.D.N.Y. 2021).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK -------------------------------------------------------------X MEDIDATA SOLUTION, INC., et al., : Plaintiffs, : : -against- : 17 Civ. 589 (LGS) : VEEVA SYSTEMS, INC., : OPINION & ORDER Defendant. : ------------------------------------------------------------ X

LORNA G. SCHOFIELD, District Judge: Plaintiffs Medidata Solutions, Inc. and MDSOL Europe Limited (together, “Medidata”) allege that Veeva Systems, Inc. (“Veeva”) violated the Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) and New York’s prohibition on the misappropriation of trade secrets (Counts I, II). Medidata also alleges four claims under New York common law -- that Veeva engaged in tortious interference and unfair competition (Counts III, IV) and that Veeva aided and abetted its employees’ breach of their fiduciary duties and was unjustly enriched (Counts V, VI). Veeva asserts sixteen affirmative defenses. Medidata has filed a motion for summary judgment on Counts I and II and Veeva’s affirmative defenses of equitable estoppel and waiver. Veeva has filed a cross-motion for summary judgment on Counts I through VI. For the reasons stated below, each motion is granted in part and denied in part. I. BACKGROUND Medidata is a New York company that sells software for clinical trials, including two products, “Electronic Data Capture” (“EDC”) and “Clinical Trial Management System” (“CTMS”) software. EDC software is used to collect and store clinical trial data. CTMS software is used to manage clinical trials. Medidata claims it has created and maintains trade secrets related to and embodied in its EDC product called “Rave” EDC. Medidata broadly contends such trade secrets comprise certain information about the EDC product’s (1) platform and integration concepts, (2) software architecture design processes and principles, (3) development and planning strategies, (4)

customer-specific EDC product development information and (5) EDC product development implementation information (collectively, the “EDC Trade Secrets”). Medidata claims it has created and maintains the same categories of trade secrets for its CTMS product (collectively, the “CTMS Trade Secrets”). Medidata also claims that it has created and maintains trade secrets related to its business planning, marketing and sale of the EDC and CTMS products. Broadly, Medidata contends such trade secrets consist of certain (1) client solutions footprints, (2) sales information, (3) pricing information, (4) sales team training materials, (5) overall business plans and (6) go-to-market strategies for the EDC and CTMS products (collectively, the “Business Trade Secrets”). Veeva is a California company that also sells EDC and CTMS products. Upon entering

the clinical trial software market, Veeva hired several former Medidata employees who helped develop Veeva’s EDC and CTMS products. Medidata claims that in doing so, Veeva misappropriated the EDC, CTMS and Business Trade Secrets (collectively, the “Trade Secrets”). Medidata relies on circumstantial evidence, direct evidence and expert testimony to prove misappropriation. II. STANDARD When parties cross-move for summary judgment, a court must analyze the motions separately, “in each case construing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Wandering Dago, Inc. v. Destito, 879 F.3d 20, 30 (2d Cir. 2018). Summary judgment is appropriate where the record establishes that “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). “A genuine issue of material fact exists if ‘the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’” Nick’s Garage, Inc. v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co., 875 F.3d 107, 113

(2d Cir. 2017) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). When the movant properly supports its motion with evidentiary materials, the opposing party must establish a genuine issue of fact by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). “[A] party may not rely on mere speculation or conjecture as to the true nature of the facts to overcome a motion for summary judgment.” Fed. Trade Comm’n v. Moses, 913 F.3d 297, 305 (2d Cir. 2019). “Only admissible evidence need be considered by the trial court in ruling on a motion for summary judgment.” Porter v. Quarantillo, 722 F.3d 94, 97 (2d Cir. 2013); accord Starr Indemnity & Liability Company v. Brightstar Corp., 388 F. Supp. 3d 304, 323 (S.D.N.Y. 2019), aff’d, 828 F. App’x 84 (2d Cir. 2020). III. DISCUSSION

The parties’ cross-motions on the trade secrets claims of Counts I and II are granted in part and denied in part. Medidata sufficiently describes and provides evidentiary support for ten of the sixteen classes of Trade Secrets -- thus creating issues of fact precluding summary judgment for Veeva. Both parties raise triable fact issues as to whether those ten classes of Trade Secrets are valuable, protected and misappropriated. Veeva’s motion for summary judgment on Counts III through VI is granted, as those claims are preempted under controlling state law. Medidata’s motion for summary judgment on Veeva’s affirmative defenses of waiver and equitable estoppel is granted. A. The Trade Secrets Claims (Counts I and II) Under New York law,1 “[a] plaintiff claiming misappropriation of a trade secret must prove that: (1) it possessed a trade secret, and (2) defendant is using that trade secret in breach of an agreement, confidence, or duty, or as a result of discovery by improper means.” E.J. Brooks

Co. v. Cambridge Sec. Seals, 105 N.E. 3d 301, 310 (N.Y. 2018); accord Cont’l Indus. Group, Inc. v. Altunkilic, 788 F. App’x 37, 40 (2d Cir. 2019) (summary order). The federal Defend Trade Secrets Act (“DTSA”) similarly requires proving misappropriation of a trade secret either by acquisition of the trade secret through improper means or disclosure or use of the trade secret without consent. See Medidata Sols., Inc. v. Veeva Sys. Inc., No. 17 Civ. 589, 2018 WL 6173349, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 26, 2018); accord AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC v. Soto, No. 17 Civ. 8035, 2018 WL 1684339, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 5, 2018) see also 18 U.S.C. §§ 1831–39. As the requirements are similar under the DTSA and New York law, courts often rely on cases discussing New York law to analyze DTSA claims. See, e.g., Elsevier Inc. v. Doctor

1 The parties dispute whether New York or California’s trade secret law applies to Count II. Federal courts use the forum state’s choice-of-law rule. See Fieger v. Pitney Bowes Credit Corp., 251 F.3d 386, 393 (2d Cir. 2001); accord Kashef v. BNP Paribas SA, No. 16 Civ. 3228, 2020 WL 1047573, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 3, 2020). New York’s choice-of-law rule first asks if an “actual conflict” is present and then which jurisdiction has a greater interest in the dispute. See AEI Life LLC v. Lincoln Benefit Life Co., 892 F.3d 126, 135 n.11 (2d Cir. 2018); Licci ex rel. Licci v. Lebanese Canadian Bank, SAL, 672 F.3d 155, 157-58 (2d Cir. 2012).

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Medidata Solutions, Inc. v. Veeva Systems Inc., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/medidata-solutions-inc-v-veeva-systems-inc-nysd-2021.