Montrose cleaning company accuses former employee of client poaching

A cleaning business in Montrose is suing a former employee over claims he breached his employment agreement by using confidential information to steal clients for a competitor.

ABM Janitorial Services-South Central, of Montrose, filed a lawsuit on Nov. 17 in Harris County District Court against Sugar Land resident Alvio Estrada, citing breach of employment agreement, trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference with business relations and unfair competition.

ABM says on May 16, Estrada lied to supervisors when he resigned from his sales management position with the company, assuring them his new position with a competitor would not interfere with ABM’s business. According to the brief, within 24 hours of his resignation, he used ABM’s proprietary information to solicit its key clients.

ABM is seeking injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs. It is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Brian Coolidge.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-70020.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.