Finn v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh

**What Happened:** This case involved a dispute over insurance coverage related to trade secret theft. An employee or former employee at National Union Fire Insurance Company allegedly stole confidential business information (trade secrets). When legal claims arose from this theft, the company tried to get their insurance policy to cover the costs of defending against or paying for these claims. **What the Court Decided:** The Massachusetts court ruled against the insurance company. The court found that the insurance policy clearly excluded coverage for any claims involving stolen intellectual property, including trade secrets. This meant the insurance company had to handle the legal costs themselves, without help from their insurer. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling highlights how seriously courts treat trade secret theft in the workplace. When employees misuse confidential company information, it can lead to expensive legal battles that companies must fight without insurance protection. Workers should understand that taking proprietary information when leaving a job—such as customer lists, formulas, or business strategies—can result in significant legal consequences. Companies are likely to pursue these cases aggressively since they bear the full financial burden of litigation.