throbber
Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 1 of 35
`
`
`
`Sydney R. Gambee (Nevada Bar No. 14201)
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`9555 Hillwood Drive, 2nd Floor
`Las Vegas, NV 89134
`Tel: 702.669.4600
`Fax: 702.669.4650
`srgambee@hollandhart.com
`Attorneys for Plaintiffs
`
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`DISTRICT OF NEVADA, NORTHERN DIVISION
`
`
`
`
`Case No.:
`
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MISSION HEALTHCARE SERVICES,
`LLC, a California limited liability company;
`and HEALTHY LIVING AT HOME -
`CARSON CITY, LLC, a Nevada Limited
`Liability Company,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`
`v.
`
`BATTLE BORN HOME HEALTH, LLC, a
`Nevada limited liability company; JESSICA
`CONNANT (CRISP), an individual;
`ANGEL VASQUEZ BARNES, an
`individual; and JOSEPH BARNES, an
`individual,
`
`Defendants.
`
`Plaintiffs Mission Healthcare Services, LLC (“MHS”), and Healthy Living at Home –
`Carson City, LLC (“HLH Carson City”) (collectively “Mission”), by and through their
`undersigned counsel, HOLLAND & HART LLP, file this Complaint for injunctive relief and
`damages against Defendants, Jessica (Crisp) Conant (“Crisp”), Angel Vasquez Barnes (“A.
`Barnes”), and Joseph Barnes (“J. Barnes”), (collectively the “Employee Defendants”), and
`Battle Born Home Health, LLC (“Battle Born”) (Battle Born and the Employee Defendants are
`collectively referred to herein as the “Defendants”) and hereby allege as follows:
`///
`
`
`
`1
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 2 of 35
`
`
`
`PARTIES
`MHS is a California limited liability company with its principal place of business
`1.
`in San Diego, California.
`HLH Carson City is a Nevada limited liability company with its principal place of
`2.
`business in Carson City, Nevada.
`MHS and HLH Carson City transact business, provide home health care services
`3.
`in, and have employees Carson City Nevada, in addition to other locations across the United
`States.
`Upon information and belief, Battle Born is a Nevada limited liability company
`4.
`with its principal place of business located at 307 West Winnie Lane, # 5, Carson City, NV,
`89703. Battle Born transacts business, provides home health care services, and has, and/or is
`preparing to have employees in Carson City, NV.
`Upon information and belief, Crisp is an individual residing in Carson City,
`5.
`Nevada, and is a former employee of Mission who is now employed by and performs services
`for Battle Born and/or has an ownership or equity interest therein.
`Upon information and belief, A. Barnes is an individual residing in Reno, Nevada,
`6.
`and is a former employee of Mission who is now employed by and performs services for Battle
`Born and/or has an ownership or equity interest therein.
` Upon information and belief, J. Barnes is an individual residing in Reno, Nevada,
`7.
`and is a former employee of Mission who is now employed by and performs services for Battle
`Born and/or has an ownership or equity interest therein.
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`This Court has jurisdiction over this action based upon 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
`8.
`Defendants are subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court because they
`9.
`reside and operate businesses in the state of Nevada, and because they have transacted and are
`currently transacting business in the state of Nevada, which gives rise to their liability to
`
`
`
`2
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 3 of 35
`
`
`
`Plaintiffs.
`10. Venue is proper in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
`pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(a), because Nevada is the state in which Defendants reside and
`where a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claims occurred.
`FACTUAL BACKGROUND
`Mission and the Home Health and Hospice Industry
`A.
`HLH Carson City has provided personalized, life-changing home health and
`11.
`hospice services in Nevada for many years.
`In 2021, Mission Healthcare Services, Inc., acquired HLH Carson City.
`12.
`13. When Mission Healthcare Services, Inc. acquired HLH Carson City, all the HLH
`Carson City assets, liabilities, contracts, including without limitation contracts with its
`employees, were assigned to MHS and related entities.
`14. Mission provides custom and personalized home health and hospice services
`throughout several western states including Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon,
`Washington, and Utah. Mission’s platform in Utah includes skilled nursing services, physical
`therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides, medical social workers, end
`of life, and hospice care (the “Business”).
`15. Mission employs a team of talented and caring health care professionals dedicated
`to serving patients with the appropriate combination of clinical skill and personal care. Mission
`has expended considerable time and resources identifying, recruiting, hiring, and training these
`professionals.
`16. Mission operates the Business in an extremely competitive environment with a
`number of national, regional, and local home health and hospice service companies within their
`footprint vying for the opportunity to serve the same patient population.
`17. Mission has long-standing relationships with many referral sources, including but
`not limited to physicians, hospitals, skilled nursing and care facilities (“Referral Sources”), and
`
`
`
`3
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 4 of 35
`
`
`
`has expended substantial money and time in developing and maintaining those relationships.
`In an effort to gain and maintain a competitive advantage, Mission expends
`18.
`substantial time, effort, and resources developing, maintaining, and creating, among other
`things: (i) institutional knowledge, processes, documentation, and know-how in both clinical
`services and marketing as well as confidential and proprietary information pertaining to its
`Referral Sources and its employees (collectively the “Business Information”); (ii) trade secrets,
`including techniques, strategies, and information about its Referral Sources, employees, and
`patients (the “Trade Secrets”); and (iii) relationships with employees, communities, Referral
`Sources, and third party vendors.
`19. Mission’s Business requires that certain employees receive information, including
`without limitation, Business Information and/or Trade Secrets, related to its Business,
`employees, and Referral Sources for the purpose of continuing to build the Mission brand,
`advertising, and obtaining and retaining Referral Sources, patients, and employees.
`The process of developing a team of health care professionals, community
`20.
`partners, Referral Sources, and patients in this industry is lengthy, difficult, and expensive and
`requires Mission and its competitors to develop and maintain close personal relationships with
`Referral Sources, patients, and employees. In addition, Mission must has obtained a competitive
`advantage over competitors by having a clear understanding of each Referral Source, patient,
`and employee’s needs and preferences, and developing and employing the most efficient and
`effective way to meet or exceed those needs. Such an understanding can only be developed
`through years of gathering information, developing relationships, and delivering service
`consistent with the unique needs of the patients and within the specifications of the Referral
`Sources. It would take a startup competitor many years to catch up with Mission.
`21. Mission operates in an extremely competitive industry in which its competitors,
`including Battle Born, would greatly benefit from obtaining Mission’s Confidential
`Information. Accordingly, Mission takes care to safeguard and protect its Confidential
`
`
`
`4
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 5 of 35
`
`
`
`Information from disclosure or use by others.
`B.
`Battle Born’s Operation in the Home Health and Hospice Market.
`22. While it would typically take a long period of time and significant resources to
`build a home health company from scratch, the Employee Defendants together devised a
`scheme at least by November 2021 in which they planned to and did instantly launch a profitable
`home health company by improperly acquiring Mission’s business, assets, and resources
`(including its employees) without having to pay for it.
`The Employee Defendants’ scheme was to form Battle Born while they were still
`23.
`employed and being paid by Mission. On information and belief, to this end, while they were
`waiting for the needed licensing and approvals to be obtained before Battle Born could be
`operational and take patients, they began siphoning off Mission’s Confidential Business
`Information and Trade Secrets and soliciting Mission’s employees to leave Mission and work
`for Battle Born the moment it could open its doors.
`On information and belief, in breach of their fiduciary duties and duty of loyalty
`24.
`to Mission, each of the Employee Defendants accepted employment with and for Battle Born
`and began serving Battle Born’s interests (not Mission’s) while still employed by and receiving
`compensation from Mission.
`In other words, while the Employee Defendants were employed by and receiving
`25.
`compensation from Mission, and in direct breach of their several obligations to Mission, the
`Employee Defendants recruited Mission’s employees and contractors, including each other, for
`Battle Born, even using Mission’s resources to do so.
`Also contrary to their duties, the Employee Defendants spoke ill of Mission and
`26.
`discouraged employees and contractors from continuing employment with Mission.
`27. When a Mission employee expressed a willingness to work for Battle Born, he or
`she was instructed by the Employee Defendants to continue to take a paycheck from Mission
`until it was time for Battle Born to launch. This way, Mission was funding the scheme, and the
`
`
`
`5
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 6 of 35
`
`
`
`Employee Defendants had no financial risk as they waited for Battle Born to get the necessary
`state and federal approvals.
`improperly utilized Mission’s Business
`The Employee Defendants also
`28.
`Information and Trade Secrets as they formed and launched Battle Born, including without
`limitation, to solicit Mission’s employees and contractors and/or to solicit Mission’s Referral
`Sources.
`Battle Born filed its initial State and Business License Application on February 2,
`29.
`2022, listing Messers Brian Krug and Derek Beal as managers of the limited liability company.
`Upon information and belief, Battle Born provides or is planning to provide home
`30.
`health care services, including skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech
`therapy, social services, and CNS services in Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville, and Dayton,
`Nevada, as a direct competitor with Mission and its Business.
`Through their scheme, Defendants have solicited and hired multiple Mission
`31.
`employees and contractors, though some remain employed by Mission as instructed. It is
`Defendants’ intent to utilize Mission’s Business Information and Trade Secrets and reap the
`benefits of their improper solicitation of Mission’s employees and contractors, in order to
`quickly take Battle Born from the start-up phase to a fully functioning competitor of Mission.
`C. Mission’s Business Information and Trade Secrets.
`32. Mission possesses Business Information, which includes but is not limited to,
`information about Mission, its Referral Sources, employees, and clients; information about the
`Business, including without limitation its operations and financial information; future plans of
`every type; pricing schedules, lists, promotions, and products; marketing and sales strategies
`including without limitation information and strategy regarding Referral Sources; concepts,
`designs, models, strategies, procedures, ideas, and know how; employee and patient personally
`identifiable information; agreements and contract terms; business methods; all information
`employees may obtain, prepare or analyze during the course of employment; research materials;
`
`
`
`6
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 7 of 35
`
`
`
`memoranda; correspondence or other documentation; payroll and compensation information;
`personnel files including without limitation performance information; information concerning
`compensation of third parties, consultants, and vendors; and business models.
`33. Mission also possesses Trade Secrets, which include but are not limited to, data,
`formulas and processes related to strategic alliances and relationships with vendors, Referral
`Sources, patients, employees, and third parties, and including without limitation, confidential
`techniques, strategies, and information about Referral Sources, employees, and patients.
`34. Mission’s Business Information and Trade Secrets are not generally known to the
`public or within the industry and have independent economic value because the information is
`not readily ascertainable by independent investigation.
`35. Mission takes reasonable precautions to ensure confidentiality of its Business
`Information and Trade Secrets. Such efforts include, among others: (i) implementing policies
`limiting access to the such information; (ii) requiring employees to acknowledge their receipt
`of an employee handbook; (iii) entering into non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements with
`its employees; (iii) restricting employees’ physical and technological access to the subject
`information; (iv) securing the information’s physical and electronic storage; and (v) limiting
`distribution of the information only to those employees who need the information to perform
`their specific job functions.
`For example, Mission maintains password protections, trains employees to
`36.
`safeguard information, and operates in a culture and environment which requires employees to
`understand and take seriously the need to keep all Business Information and Trade Secrets
`confidential.
`Because the Employee Defendants occupied key positions within the Mission
`37.
`organization, at all material times during their employment, the Employee Defendants were
`given access to and were permitted to use Mission’s Business Information and/or Trade Secrets.
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 8 of 35
`
`
`
`In addition to the steps outlined above, Mission required the Employee Defendants
`38.
`to contractually agree to refrain from describing, disclosing, misappropriating, publishing,
`taking, transmitting, or using Mission’s Business Information or Trade Secrets for any purpose
`other than to further Mission’s Business.
`39. Specifically, HLH Carson City required employees to sign the Employee
`Acknowledgement and Receipt of Healthy Living at Home Handbook form (the “HLH Carson
`City Handbook Acknowledgement”) whereby the Employee Defendants acknowledged receipt
`of the Healthy Living Network Employee Handbook (the “HLH Carson City Handbook”), the
`Non-Disclosure and Assignment of Inventions Agreement (the “HLH Carson City NDA”), and
`the Code of Conduct (the “HLH Carson City Code of Conduct”) (collectively, the “HLH Carson
`City Employment Agreements”).
`By signing the HLC Carson City Handbook Acknowledgement, the Employee
`40.
`Defendants agreed that they “would be responsible for reading[,]” had read, and would observe
`and abide by the conditions of employment, policies, and rules contained in the HLH Carson
`City Handbook, as well as other HLH Carson City policies, such as those prohibiting disclosure
`of HLH Carson City’s Business Information and Trade Secrets.1
`The Employee Defendants also each agreed that the HLH Carson City Handbook
`41.
`was an accurate representation of his or her obligations to HLH Carson City.
`By signing the HLH Carson City Handbook Acknowledgement, the Employee
`42.
`Defendants each agreed that they would “have access to sensitive information that [HLH Carson
`City does] not share with [its] competitors, the public, or even other employees who do not need
`to know the information to do their jobs. This information belongs to the Company.
`[Employees] may not use it for personal gain or for the benefit of someone else, like another
`employer or one of [HLH Carson City’s] competitors. The information is provided to
`
`
`
`
`1 Crisp signed the HLH Handbook acknowledgement on July 17, 2018, J. Barnes signed it on
`August 17, 2018, and A. Barnes signed it on August 10, 2018.
`
`
`
`8
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 9 of 35
`
`
`
`[employees] to use in performing work for the Company. Except as permitted by law or as
`necessary in the regular course of your duties . . . [employees] may not divulge confidential
`information to any third party without express written permission from the President of the
`Company.”
`By signing the HLH Carson City Handbook Acknowledgement, the Employee
`43.
`Defendants also agreed that if they left “employment with the Company for any reason” each
`would “continue to treat as private and privileged any such sensitive information” and would
`not “use, reveal, or communicate to any person or entity any of this information without the
`written approval of the Company.”
`By signing the HLH Carson City Handbook Acknowledgement, the Employee
`44.
`Defendants also agreed that “[t]heft, misappropriation, or unauthorized possession or use of
`property, documents, records, or funds belonging to the Company, or any patient or employee,
`removal of the same from Company premises without authorization,” “[d]ivulging confidential
`information of any kind to any unauthorized person(s) or without an official need-to know
`requirement,” or “[o]btaining unauthorized confidential information pertaining to patients or
`employees”2 constituted misconduct and that upon learning about any such misconduct,
`including but not limited to the use or disclosure of the HLH Carson City’s Business
`Information or Trade Secrets, the Company “will pursue legal remedies” against each of them.
`By signing the HLH Carson City NDA, each of the Employee Defendants agreed
`45.
`that during their employment, and at “all times thereafter” each would “hold in the strictest
`confidence and [would] not use, except for the benefit of the Company, or disclose to any
`person, firm, or corporation, without written authorization from the Company’s President or a
`company officer, any [Confidential] Information, including, without limitation, information
`concerning project development and production, marketing plans and strategy, business plans
`and projections, finances, operations, billing methods and client and contact lists or other
`
`
`2 Id. at p. 24.
`
`
`
`9
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 10 of 35
`
`
`
`subject matter pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its clients as defined
`above.”3
`By signing the HLH Carson City NDA, each of the Employee Defendants also
`46.
`agreed that they would “hold in the strictest confidence and [would] not use, except for the
`benefit of the Company, or disclose to any person, firm, or corporation, without written
`authorization from the Company’s President or a company officer, any [Business Information
`or Trade Secret] Information, including, without limitation, information concerning project
`development and production, marketing plans and strategy, business plans and projections,
`finances, operations, billing methods and client and contact lists or other subject matter
`pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its clients as defined above.”
`By signing the HLH Carson City NDA, each of the Employee Defendants also
`47.
`agreed that they would “maintain in secrecy all [Business Information and Trade Secret]
`Information and other confidential and/or proprietary information relating to the Company and
`its officers and/or directors and [would] use such Information only in the course of performing
`[their] duties” for the Company, and that they would “maintain in trust all such [Business
`Information and Trade Secret] Information as the Company’s property, including but not
`limited to, all documents, work papers, telephone directories, notes, and any and all copies
`thereof” in their possession or under their control.
`By signing the HLH Carson City NDA, each of the Employee Defendants also
`48.
`agreed that they would “return to the Company any and all equipment, computer, disks, notes,
`notebooks, documents, memoranda, proposals, reports, files, forms, samples, books,
`correspondence, lists, or other written records affecting or relating to the Company, or created
`by [the Employee Defendant] during his or her employment with the Company, and any and all
`copies thereof” which were in the Employee Defendant’s possession.
`
`
`
`
`3 Crisp signed the HLH Carson City NDA on July 17, 2018, A. Barnes signed it on August 1,
`2018, and J. Barnes signed it on August 12, 2018.
`
`
`
`10
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 11 of 35
`
`
`
`By signing the HLH Carson City NDA, each of the Employee Defendants also
`49.
`agreed that they would not “at any time, either during the term of employment or for a period
`of one (1) year thereafter . . . whether as an owner, partner, shareholder, agent, employee,
`creditor, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, solicit, interfere with, divert, disrupt or attempt to
`disrupt any present business relationship, either contracted or otherwise, between the Company,
`its affiliates, successors in interest, or assigns, and any merchant, customer, advertiser, client or
`employee of the Company, its affiliates, successors in interest, or assigns.”
`By signing the HLH Carson City NDA, each of the Employee Defendants also
`50.
`agreed that they would not “at any time, either during the term of employment or for a period
`of one (1) year thereafter, . . ., whether as an owner, partner, shareholder, agent, employee,
`creditor, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, solicit, interfere with, divert, disrupt or attempt to
`disrupt any business relationship, either contracted or otherwise, between the Company, its
`affiliates, successors in interest, or assigns, and any prospective merchant, customer, advertiser
`or client with whom the Company, its affiliates, successors in interest, or assigns have initiated
`a business contact.”
`By signing the HLH Carson City Code of Conduct, each of the Employee
`51.
`Defendants agreed that he or she would refrain from “obtaining any personal benefit by virtue
`of [their] employment” with HLH Carson City, that they would “disclose to the Corporate
`Compliance Officer any financial interest, ownership interest or any other relationship” that
`they had with “the Company’s customers, vendors, or competitors,” that they would not use
`HLH Carson City Business Information or Trade Secrets for their “own personal benefit or for
`the benefit of any other person or entity, except the Company while employed by the Company
`or at any time thereafter,” and that they would “promptly report all violations or suspected
`violations of [the] Standards of Conduct by other Employees verbally to the Corporate
`Compliance Officer or the compliance hotline or in writing to the Corporate Compliance
`
`
`
`11
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 12 of 35
`
`
`
`Officer.”4
`In addition to the HLH Carson City Employment Agreements, as a requirement of
`52.
`their employment, each of the Employee Defendants executed a Non-Disclosure and
`Confidentiality Agreement with Mission (the “Mission NDA”).
`By signing the Mission NDA, the Employee Defendants agreed that they would
`53.
`“maintain [Mission] Confidential Information in strictest confidence for the sole and exclusive
`benefit of [Mission]” and that they would not, “without prior written approval” from Mission
`“publish, copy, or otherwise disclose to others, or permit the use by others for their benefit or
`to the detriment of [Mission], any Confidential Information” that belongs to Mission and that
`they would “return any and all records, notes, and other written, printed, or tangible materials”
`in their possession to Mission immediately.5
`
`D.
`
`While The Employee Defendants Worked for Mission They, Conspired to Leave
`Mission to Operate and a Competing Business using Mission’s Business
`Information and Trade Secrets to Wrongfully Recruit Mission Employees,
`Referral Sources and Patients.
`
`Crisp was employed as the Administrator of HLH Carson City between
`54.
`approximately July 7, 2016, and January 19, 2022.
`55. As the Administrator, Crisp managed HLH Carson City’s entire business operation
`and was the chief administrative employee at HLH Carson City. The owners and officers of
`Mission extended substantial trust and authority to Ms. Crisp, and she was charged with
`maintaining and overseeing the daily operations and quality of HLH Carson City.
`To perform these tasks, Crisp was required to perform numerous key corporate
`56.
`initiatives, including to, among other things, development of company and organizational goals,
`implement health regulations and standards, promote and assist with interdepartmental
`
`
`
`
`4 Crisp signed the HLH Code of Conduct on July 17, 2018, A. Barnes signed it on August 1, 2018,
`and J. Barnes signed it on August 12, 2018.
`5 Crisp signed the Mission NDA on November 19, 2021, J. Barnes signed it on December 2, 2021,
`and A. Barnes signed it on December 2, 2021.
`
`
`
`12
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 13 of 35
`
`
`
`communication and cooperation, assist in the development of employees through recruitment,
`retention, training, motivation, and rewards, establish and ensure implementation of
`performance goals, assist with the long term planning and implementation of strategic
`educational, patient care, research, revenue, and public relations programs, manage fiscal
`activities of the agency, coordinate special departmental activities, monitor record systems,
`develop policies, develop and enhance employee performance and fulfilment, oversee care
`delivery and patient outcomes, ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and
`standards.
`The performance of these duties provided Crisp with access to Mission business
`57.
`information, including Business Information and Trade Secret Information on a daily basis.
`J. Barnes was employed with Mission from August 12, 2018, through January 19,
`58.
`2022, as a registered nurse case manager.
`As a registered nurse case manager, J. Barnes was responsible for, among other
`59.
`things, working with and managing Mission’s clinical staff, working with software programs
`including having key access to same, coordinating patient care and understanding and planning
`patient care for Mission’s patients including working directly with Mission’s developed referral
`sources, coordinating employee schedules and patient visits, supervising LPN and HHA field
`staff, providing education to employees regarding Mission’s policies, practices and care
`standards, being familiar with and follow Medicare and Medicaid regulations, observing,
`assessing, and documenting patient symptoms and progress, and performing home care visits
`as needed.
`The performance of these duties allowed J. Barnes to gain access to Mission’s
`60.
`information, including Business Information and Trade Secret information and develop direct
`relationships with Mission’s clinical employees and referral sources.
`A. Barnes was employed with Mission from August 1, 2018, through January 19,
`61.
`2022, as a certified nurse assistant.
`
`
`
`13
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 14 of 35
`
`
`
`62. As a Certified Nurse Assistant, A. Barnes was responsible for, among other things,
`assisting in the implementation of patient care plans, performing tasks assigned by his
`supervising RN, charting, observing and reporting safety hazards and other issues seen in
`patients’ homes, and other duties assigned by an RN.
`The performance of these duties allowed A. Barnes to gain access to Mission
`63.
`Business Information and Trade Secret information and develop direct relationships with
`Mission’s clinical employees, including RNs, and its patients.
`64. Upon information and belief, Crisp began providing services and performing
`actions for Battle Born’s benefit during her employment with Mission and while being paid by
`Mission.
`65. Upon information and belief, Crisp affirmatively hid from Mission that she had
`formed and begun performing services for Battle Born, a direct competitor of Mission, while
`she remained employed by and received paychecks from Mission.
`66. Upon information and belief, A. Barnes and J. Barnes were each aware that Crisp
`had formed and begun providing services for Battle Born but failed to disclose that information
`to Mission.
`67. Upon learning that Crisp had, in violation of her contractual obligations to
`Mission, not only begun forming a competing home health agency while employed by Mission
`but was doing so utilizing Mission’s resources including Mission’s Business Information and
`Trade Secret information and was negatively interfering with Mission’s business and at-will
`employment relationships, Mission terminated Crisp’s employment.
`68. Within thirty minutes of terminating Crisp’s employment, A. Barnes and J. Barnes
`each resigned without notice and effective immediately.
`69. Upon information and belief, Crisp began working for Battle Born during her
`employment with Mission. Upon information and belief, A. Barnes and J. Barnes performed
`some actions or services for Battle Born during their employment with Mission and became
`
`
`
`14
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`9555 HILLWOOD DRIVE, 2ND FLOOR
`
`LAS VEGAS, NV 89134
`
`HOLLAND & HART LLP
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:22-cv-00333-LRH-CLB Document 1 Filed 07/25/22 Page 15 of 35
`
`
`
`employees of Battle Born immediately after their employment with Mission ended.
`Upon information and belief, each of the Employee Defendants consp

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket