Consumer Fraud and Abuse Act

The Fourth Circuit recently held that the Consumer Fraud and Abuse Act’s (“CFAA”) prohibitions against unauthorized access or access in excess of authorization were not violated by an employee when the employee used his valid access to employer’s computer network to download confidential business information that he later used while working for a competitor.

Prior

Many employers often question what recourse is available when faced with the destruction or alteration of company data by former employees.  This question is made more complicated when employees use their own personal computer for work. In addressing this issue, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern division held that an employee’s