TechAmerica, ITI settle legal dispute

The $5 million legal battle between TechAmerica and the Information Technology Industry Council has ended in a confidential settlement.

TechAmerica had filed suit against ITI after four TechAmerica lobbyists bolted and set up a rival practice at ITI focused on the public sector.

TechAmerica claimed theft of membership and other proprietary information by the four public sector procurement lobbyists: Trey Hodgkins, Erica McCann, Pam Walker and Carol Henton. McCann was not named in the $5 million lawsuit filed by TechAmerica.

The association asked the court for damages, a temporary restraining order barring disclosure of trade secrets, a permanent injunction, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.

With the settlement, both sides are releasing few details, so it isn’t clear what, if anything, TechAmerica gained.

“TechAmerica’s top priority is always the success of our members and the larger U.S. technology industry, and all actions we take are to serve that goal,” TechAmerica president Shawn Osborne said in a statement. “This resolution is in the best interest of our members.”

ITI struck a similar tone in their announcement.

"ITI is committed to focusing on the vibrancy of the technology sector and the dynamic future that ICT innovation brings to consumers around the world,” said ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield. “To ensure continued success in achieving this vision, ITI and TechAmerica have agreed to the resolution of pending litigation between them.”

The associations were not offering any other comment beyond their prepared statements.