Opinion ID: 2708406
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Quasi-Contract

Text: Spitz further argues that Proven Winners and/or Euro are liable to her under a quantum meruit or unjust enrichment theory because they misappropriated her “pet safe plants” idea. But these claims, when based on misappropriation of a trade secret, have been replaced under Illinois law by the Illinois Trade Secrets Act (the “ITSA”). That statute “is intended to displace conflicting tort, restitutionary, unfair competition, and other laws of this State providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a trade secret.” 765 ILCS 1065/8. Because unjust enrichment and quantum meruit are essentially claims for restitution, Spitz’s claim fails. Pope v. Alberto-Culver Co., 694 N.E.2d 615, 619 (Ill. App. 1998). Spitz contends that since the district court found her idea was not a trade secret, her claim is not preempted by the ITSA. But Illinois courts have read the preemptive language in the ITSA to cover claims that are essentially claims of trade secret misappropriation, even when the alleged “trade secret”does not fall within the Act’s definition. See id. (finding claim for unjust enrichment as a result of misappropriation of proposal preempted by the ITSA, even though the proposal itself was not a trade secret within the meaning of the Act). No. 13-3084 15