A former Tyson Foods Inc. plant manager who flew the coop now finds himself at the center of a lawsuit for working for a competitor.
The Springdale protein processor said that Michael Cox, who was the complex manager for Tyson’s Noel, Missouri, plant, had an agreement not to work for a competitor for a year after he left Tyson in January, according to Tyson’s lawsuit, filed last month in Washington County Circuit Court.
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.
In May, Cox told Tyson that he had taken a job as complex manager for Pilgrim’s Pride in its South Carolina plant.
Tyson said Cox’s new job is identical to his responsibilities at Tyson.
Tyson is suing Cox for breach of the employment agreement and also named Pilgrim’s Pride as a defendant for allegedly encouraging Cox to take the job, even though it knew about the employment agreement.
Cox said in his court filings that he has acted in good faith and Tyson hasn’t been harmed by his actions.
“Mr. Cox has not provided Pilgrim’s with any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of Tyson, nor has Mr. Cox used any such information in any manner,” his answer said.
He asked that the case be dismissed.
Pilgrim’s Pride also denied all allegations of wrongdoing. It also asked for the case to be tossed out.
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