Cigna has blocked CVS Health from hiring Amy Bricker, a former Cigna executive, after a federal judge granted the company a temporary injunction.
Cigna sued the retail pharmacy chain and Bricker earlier this month after it was announced Bricker would be joining CVS Health’s leadership team. Bricker was a high-level executive with Cigna, reporting directly to the CEO of Evernorth, formerly known as Cigna Medical Group. She had knowledge of sensitive business information about Cigna related to supply chain, product development plans, strategic direction, enterprise-wide activities, sales and client and health plan relationships, according to Cigna.
The lawsuit alleged Bricker was violating an agreement not to work for a competitor by taking an executive role at CVS Health, which announced the appointment of Bricker as executive vice president and chief product officer for consumer, in January. Missouri Judge Ronnie White granted Cigna a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit as the courts finalize the case. The order prohibits Bricker from providing services to CVS that directly compete with Cigna or providing any corporate secrets from Cigna to CVS during the restraining order. She also cannot take the role of chief product officer for consumer health.
“The Court further finds that Defendant Bricker’s employment with CVS Pharmacy would breach the parties’ non-competition agreement and, based on the record before the Court, it would be inevitable in her proposed role that she would disclose or use Cigna’s trade secrets and/or confidential business information,” the restraining order stated.
If Bricker is later found to be wrongfully restrained in the conclusion of the case, Cigna has agreed to pay $250,000 in damages, according to the order.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."