Wal-Mart Wins Gag Order; Former Worker Muzzled
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Wal-Mart has won a gag order to stop a fired security operative from talking to reporters after a string of revelations about the retailer’s large surveillance operations and its business plans, according to court papers made public on yesterday.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. filed a lawsuit and request for a temporary restraining order directly with Circuit Court Judge John R. Scott after court hours Friday in the retailer’s home county of Benton. After-hours filing directly with a judge was rare in civil cases, Mr. Scott said.
The suit and the judge’s order granting the restraining order against Bruce Gabbard became part of the public file yesterday.
In the lawsuit, Wal-Mart alleges that Mr. Gabbard has violated trade secrets law by revealing to reporters “confidential information about Wal-Mart security systems and operations” and “highly confidential information about Wal-Mart’s strategic planning.” It seeks unspecified damages.
The judge’s temporary order bars Mr. Gabbard from disclosing any further Wal-Mart trade secrets or confidential information.
