In the high-stakes arena of intellectual property (IP) law, cases often unravel into complex dramas. Such was the situation when a prominent partner at a leading law firm presented us with an extraordinary case. They were representing a globally recognized scientist accused of stealing IP from a former employer. The case had progressed to federal court, featuring multiple declarations from a forensic expert while depositions, including one from the defendant, had already been conducted.

From our initial consultation, it was clear that the defendant believed the plaintiff was manipulating the legal process to prevent him from working with a competitor, despite no existing non-compete agreements. The lawsuit sought an injunction based on alleged IP theft. However, our examination of court papers, deposition transcripts, and expert declarations revealed no prior suspicion of theft before the lawsuit's filing.