Opinion ID: 59477
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: SBS's Actions After the Miami Meeting

Text: Amigo presented sufficient evidence that, after the Miami meeting, SBS had actual knowledge of Garza's and Bernal's Employment Agreements with Amigo and nonetheless continued to communicate with and negotiate to employ Garza and Bernal while they were still employed at Amigo. When Brooks learned about the Miami meeting, he asked Anderson to send SBS a letter asking SBS not to interfere with Garza's and Bernal's Employment Agreements with Amigo, which Anderson did on November 12. Thus, after November 12, it is undisputed that SBS definitively knew about Garza's and Bernal's Employment Agreements with Amigo. Given SBS's knowledge, Amigo presented sufficient evidence that on November 18, SBS began to draft employment agreements for Garza and Bernal. Plaintiffs Exhibit 25 shows a string of e-mails between Hernandez, Cueva, and Alarcon's secretary, Ivette Davidson, [23] which indicate that: Hernandez and SBS were in the process of preparing the SBS Employment Agreements for Garza and Bernal to work at SBS, and SBS requested Garza's and Bernal's Employment Agreements with Amigo to help the lawyer who is doing the new contracts. Cueva testified that he requested to see Garza's and Bernal's Employment Agreements with Amigo in order to determine if they existed and if they prevented SBS from employing Garza and Bernal. Upon receiving the agreements, Cueva evaluated them and, with the help of SBS's outside counsel determined that they did not prevent SBS from hiring Garza and Bernal. [24] Amigo then presented sufficient evidence that before Garza and Bernal left Amigo, SBS transmitted the SBS Employment Agreements to Hernandez, thereafter revised them in response to Hernandez's and Bernal's requests, and these agreements were significantly more lucrative than Garza's and Bernal's current Employment Agreements with Amigo. Cueva testified, and the evidence establishes, that on November 24  the day before Garza and Bernal stopped performing the Show  Cueva transmitted what appeared to be final drafts of the SBS Employment Agreements to Hernandez. [25] Furthermore, Cueva testified, and the evidence establishes, that on November 25, SBS revised the SBS Employment Agreements to accommodate for changes that were discussed between Hernandez and Bernal. Finally, Cueva testified that the drafts of the SBS Employment Agreements offered Garza and Bernal $300,000 and $100,000 per year, respectively, for a term of five years, amongst other bonuses. These terms were significantly more attractive to Garza and Bernal than their current agreements with Amigo. Given this evidence, a reasonable jury could conclude that although SBS definitively knew that Garza and Bernal were under contract with Amigo, SBS continued to communicate with and negotiate with them  through Hernandez  in an attempt to lure them away from Amigo. Thus, despite the fact that Garza and Bernal did not sign any employment agreements with SBS until after they left Amigo, Amigo presented sufficient evidence that SBS's actions after the Miami meeting constituted willful and intentional acts of interference. [26]