A physician is being sued for allegedly stealing trade secrets, including patient information, after leaving a Milford, Conn.-based practice.
In a suit filed Aug. 16 in New Haven Superior Court, OB-GYN Physicians and shareholder Kay Kourounis, MD, filed a suit against Novo Women's Health, a practice started by Aubrey Rauktys, MD, in 2021, Law360 reported Aug. 19.
The suit alleges that Dr. Rauktys started the company after leaving her position at OB-GYN Physicians and solicited employees and hundreds of patients to come to her competing business, breaking her covenant to not solicit patients or workers.
The suit also alleges she continues to use third-party credentials to download patient lists and materials even though her own access was revoked.
The suit accuses Dr. Rauktys of "intentionally, unethically, recklessly, unscrupulously engaged in deceptive acts, in bad faith and with sinister motives" for financial gain, interfering with Dr. Kourounis' relationship with patients and causing substantial business losses.
Additionally, although Dr. Rauktys was barred from practicing within 10 miles of OB-GYN Physicians' principal place of business in Milford during her employment or for a year after she left, her original place of business was only a mile away.
Novo Health is accused of violating Connecticut trade secret protection and unfair trade practices laws. The complaint also demands an independent accounting of Novo Health's business transactions and an injunction against using the trade secrets.
OB-GYN Physicians is also asking for Dr. Rauktys and Novo Health to make a public apology and retract all alleged falsehoods made about the plaintiffs, along with damages and royalties on Novo Health's profits from the trade secrets.
Neither Dr. Rauktys nor her attorneys immediately responded to Law360's request for comment.
Becker's has reached out to Dr. Rauktys and her attorneys and will update this story when more information becomes available.