Industry civil suit heading to trial in 2025

An Illinois district judge has granted a summary judgment decision in a civil case regarding a verification technology widely used in the waste management industry, according to Court Listener, a legal search engine associated with Oakland, California-based nonprofit organization Free Law Project.

Sonrai Systems LLC, a Maple Park, Illinois-based developer of data collection and automation systems for waste hauling and equipment industries, filed suit against its former employee Anthony Romano claiming breach of fiduciary duty arising out of an alleged scheme by Romano to assist his new employer, the Heil Co., Milwaukee, in developing and launching a product first developed by Sonrai.

Sonrai argues that Romano used confidential information about its event validation product, Vector, to help develop a rival product called Enhance, released through 3^rd Eye, a Heil acquisition. Heil contends Enhance is different than Vector and that the company did not rely on Sonrai’s confidential information to create Enhance.

Sonrai initially filed suit in March 2016. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin issued the summary judgment decision in September of 2024. A jury trial is set to begin on June 16, 2025.