Court dismisses case filed vs Helen’s Kitchen
The Regional Trial Court dismissed the case of San Jose vs. Rafols and Dorado.
It can be recalled that Chippens Food Products, owned and operated by business woman Salome dela Cruz San Jose, filed a case for Injunction, Damages, with Prayer of Preliminary Injunction against her former cook, Cecilia Rafols. The case was anchored by the fact that, when Cecilia Rafols resigned due to the delayed remittance of her SSS contributions which she badly needed at that time for her medications, she collaborated with a former colleague and other stakeholders to form Helen’s Kitchen, that eventually flourished and competed with Chippens.
San Jose claimed that Rafols and the owners of Helen’s Kitchen conspired in the revelation of the trade secrets of Chippens, hence, they were liable for Injunction and damages.
The Court dismissed the case saying that:
“As a result, the testimonies offered by the witnesses and the evidence presented by plaintiff Salome San Jose, failed to establish and expound what plaintiff’s trade secrets are, which allegedly were violated by herein defendants Rafols and Dorado. Moreso, plaintiff failed to convince this Court that she exclusively owns the unique or innovative techniques in food preparation which Chippens Food Products offers.
“WHEREFORE, finding merit to the “Demurrer to Evidence” filed by defendant, Cecilia Rafols, the same is hereby GRANTED.”
Accordingly, for insufficiency of evidence, the Complaint for Injunction, Damages and etc., filed by plaintiff, Salome dela Cruz San Jose, as sole proprietor of Chippens Food Products against defendants Cecilia Rafols and Joel Dorado is hereby DISMISSED.
Defendants did not anymore offer evidence to prove their counterclaims and considering that the parties did not file any motion for reconsideration nor appeal the decision of the Court, the decision became final.
Helen’s Kitchen, owned by JBD Group of Companies, Inc., currently offers daily lunch and dinner buffet and is located at Buhangin, Davao City.
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