Legislation intended to help protect the trade secrets of New Jersey businesses has been signed into law by Gov. Christie. The New Jersey Trade Secrets Act (S-2456/A-921) establishes by law specific remedies available to businesses in the event that a trade secret – such as a formula, design, a prototype or invention – is misappropriated. New Jersey was one of the four remaining states that have not adopted some or all of the provisions of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Massachusetts, New York and Texas are the others), but instead NJ courts have relied wide range of common law decisions in order to establish a trade secret misappropriation claim.

The New Jersey Senate approved the bill 39-0; the Assembly approved the measure 79-0. The law takes effect immediately, except it does not apply to misappropriation that occurred prior to the effective date or to a continuing misappropriation that began prior to the effective date of the law and continued after the effective date of the law.

The new law provides for damages for both actual loss suffered by a plaintiff and for any unjust enrichment of the defendant caused by the misappropriation of trade secrets. Damages also may include a reasonable royalty for unauthorized disclosure or use of the trade secrets. In cases of willful misappropriation, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees may be awarded. In addition, if a claim for misappropriation is brought in bad faith, attorneys’ fees may be awarded.

The New Jersey Act also has a couple of unique and helpful provisions, including a requirement that a court "preserve the secrecy of an alleged trade secret by reasonable means consistent with" court rules. There is also "a presumption in favor of granting protective orders in connection with discovery proceedings" as well as provisions limiting access to confidential information to only the attorneys for the parties and their experts, holding in-camera hearings, sealing the records of the action, and ordering any person involved in the litigation not to disclose an alleged trade secret without prior court approval.

It remains to be seen if New York will now follow New Jersey’s lead and adopt similar legislation.