Court Blocks Former Tyson Manager from Joining Pilgrim’s Pride

A Washington County Circuit Court judge has blocked a former Tyson Foods Inc. plant manager from continuing to work for a competitor.

Judge John Threet issued a temporary restraining order on July 19 against Michael Cox, who had recently taken a job as complex manager for Pilgrim’s Pride in its South Carolina plant.

If you recall, the Springdale protein processor sued Cox in May because it said an agreement Cox signed said he wouldn’t work for a competitor for a year after he left Tyson in January, according to Tyson’s lawsuit.

Cox earned nearly $200,000 annually and was eligible for an annual performance bonus of up to 20 percent of his base salary. As plant manager, Cox oversaw 1,200 employees and had access to Tyson’s confidential information.

Cox also was eligible to receive more than $310,000 in severance benefits.

When leaving Tyson, Cox was reminded that if he started working for a competitor within a year, he could face a clawback of the benefits and legal issues, the lawsuit said.

Tyson also asked Threet for a restraining order to prevent Cox from working at Pilgrim’s to protect Tyson’s confidential information.

The judge agreed. “The Court finds that Tyson has demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of its claims,” Threet wrote.

Cox is prohibited from working in any capacity in which his responsibilities would be similar to those that he had at Tyson, Threet said.

The temporary order will remain in place until Tyson’s motion for a preliminary injunction can be heard or Sept. 19, whichever comes first.

An attorney for Cox, Thomas Kieklak of Springdale, didn’t immediately return a call for comment. Cox and Pilgrim’s Pride had denied allegations of wrongdoing and asked that the case be dismissed.