District Court Judge Emily Tobolowsky issued the TRO in effect until a court hearing Feb. 20.
The order prevents H+K and the two executives, COO Ken Luce and newcomer Jody Venturoni, from destroying, using or divulging any confidential information taken from WS, and to return such data to WS.Tobolowski said unless H+K and the two executives were immediately restrained, WS would be "irreparably injured, imminently harmed, suffer loss and damage" by the improper use of confidential information, further loss of personnel and "loss of confidence and trust of its clients," among other possible repercussions.
H+K said it will "vigorously" defend itself and resolve the dispute.
Venturoni, who led the southwest region and the American Airlines account at Interpublic unit WS, moved to H+K’s Dallas office in December as executive VP for the U.S. region.
Luce, who moved to H+K from WS in 2010, was named COO this month.
In its petition for the TRO, Weber Shandwick said the defendants engaged in "unlawful and deceitful misappropriation" of confidential WS information and trade secrets "as part of a predatory assault against" the firm’s southwest U.S. operations and beyond.
WS said Venturoni took detailed client programs for 2012, analysis of 2011 programs, client financial arrangements and negotiations, and employee salary information, among other data.
"These are among the most confidential documents belonging to Weber Shandwick and its clients and possession by H&K and its employees would enable H&K to unfairly compete with Weber Shandwick for clients and employees," WS said in its petition, alleging that she took the data shortly before resigning.
The firm also said Luce breached contractual obligations by soliciting WS staff employees and clients.
View restraining order (PDF) | Weber Shandwick's complaint (PDF)
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