Fanatics Exec Rebuts DraftKings' Claims in Legal Battle

In the ongoing legal battle between DraftKings and Michael Hermalyn, the latest development sees Hermalyn and his legal representatives filing an Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction in the United States District Court in the District of Massachusetts.

DraftKings initiated a federal lawsuit against Hermalyn, alleging that he conspired to steal customer data and take it to his new employer, Fanatics. DraftKings claimed that Hermalyn misrepresented his reasons for traveling to finalize a deal with Fanatics while downloading confidential data. They sought to prevent Hermalyn from working for Fanatics due to a non-compete clause.

Hermalyn's filing seeks to dismiss the case entirely, citing various reasons. Among these is the assertion that DraftKings has a history of aggressively targeting employees who join competitors like Fanatics. The filing also challenges DraftKings' accusations, stating that Hermalyn had authorization to access work documents on personal devices, and any data transfer was routine with IT support.

The filing rebuts specific allegations made by DraftKings, including claims of data theft and solicitation of DraftKings employees. It argues that Hermalyn returned all company property before joining Fanatics and that the customer he introduced was already a longstanding client of Fanatics.

As the legal battle intensifies, both sides are gearing up for the upcoming hearing. DraftKings maintains its stance against Hermalyn, while Fanatics continues to support its executive, calling DraftKings' claims "outrageous" and "false."