Hoping to learn where an electronic mail item came from, Da-Lite Screen Co. Inc. has filed a lawsuit in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Although the lawsuit names "John Doe" as the defendant, it seeks a subpoena ordering Wave One to disclose the telephone number from which a Sept. 7 e-mail originated and that, once identified, Doe be ordered to turn over any Da-Lite Screen business records in his or her possession and to enjoin Doe from further use of Da-Lite's records or e-mail system. The communication was allegedly sent by "Deb Davis," but it is not known if this is the sender's legal name.

According to court documents, the unknown defendant caused an e-mail item to be distributed to Da-Lite's in-house distribution lists, which encouraged Da-Lite employees "to go outside the channels of company policy and to complain about the management of the company directly to the shareholders."

The communication then proceeded to list the names and addresses of Da-Lite shareholders, information which, according to the lawsuit, is not available to the general public about the privately-held corporation.

Although the e-mail item used in-house distribution lists, it originated outside the company systems and the person who sent the item "appeared to be hostile toward (Da-Lite) and was requesting that employees take actions that are outside company procedure."

It is believed that the person who sent the e-mail may be in possession of private business records, including trade secrets, and may be in a position to harm Da-Lite by further unauthorized use of the business records. Da-Lite is seeking to identify the e-mail sender and retrieve any records this person may have removed from the business without authorization.

The case was filed Nov. 22 by Michael L. Miner, attorney for Da-Lite Screen Co. Inc. [[In-content Ad]]