Foxtons has filed court papers against a former senior director and his partner, amid claims that they stole its database.
The firm claims that Timothy Hassell took confidential data “worth millions” when he and his partner, Christopher Andrew, set up a business of their own.
Mr Hassell, 32, was an operations director and lettings manager who had spent 12 years with Foxtons. He resigned in January to start a new business with his partner, Draker Lettings, covering smart London areas such as Pimlico, Chelsea, Belgravia and Kensington.
Now Foxtons is demanding £300,000 in damages from Hassell and Andrew, 37, a co-director and shareholder of the new firm.
Mr Hassell told the London Evening Standard he was paying “the maximum possible price” for his “stupid” actions. He said: “I did something very stupid, and I have been made to pay the maximum possible price, financially and emotionally. I regret what I did. All I care about is running a good business.”
In papers filed at the High Court, Foxtons accuses the pair of stealing “large amounts” of information relating to 2,500 clients, including the addresses of properties, landlords’ bank and contact details, rental figures, fees charged and start and end dates for tenancies.
Foxtons says it spends more than £3m a year on its “highly sensitive and valuable” client database, which it says is its “most important tool” for generating revenue.
A 19-page writ claims Mr Hassell secretly copied huge tracts from the database in the months before he left.
The Standard reports that print-outs were later seized during a court-ordered raid on Draker’s premises 200 yards from Mr Hassell’s former Foxtons office in Sloane Square.
Mr Andrew, 37, described in court papers as Mr Hassell’s “husband and business partner”, would have known the information was confidential and conspired to use it to steal Foxtons’ business, the papers state.
The Standards reports Mr Andrew as saying that the couple are now in the final stages of negotiations with Foxtons to reach an out-of-court settlement. “We are trying to settle so it does not have to go to court,” he said.
“We regret what has happened. We regret that Tim’s friends at Foxtons can’t really speak to him any more. We regret we have upset Foxtons, and regret the costs on our side. It is going to be damaging financially to the company.”
In July, Draker allegedly emailed at least 31 landlords on the Foxtons database, announcing their new company in competition with Foxtons and touting for their business.
Foxtons claims Mr Hassell has so far admitted obtaining the business of one its landlords, and it believes Draker has many more “poached” clients on its books.
Foxtons is suing Mr Hassell, Mr Andrew and Draker for alleged infringements, including breach of contract and confidence, procurement, conspiracy and breach of copyright.
A spokesman for Foxtons said: “Because we are in the legal process at the moment it is not appropriate to comment until it is concluded.”
Foxtons sues ex-director over database theft claims
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Comments
very amusing !
Sounds like these two blokes are truly buggered!
All is well it was a typo at the evening standard it should of said
"Foxtons use gay couple 'who stole database to poach clients for new rent boy agency' · Chef criticised by Gordon ...
phew thats all cleared now at least ;)
See - if Jonnie had written the piece, all would have been well!
I expected as much. As you started the name-calling, I will follow by saying thank you for confirming my suspicions that you are a Class #1 Gripper.
'Nuff said.
Well this has been a popular story today – really got some of you worked up quite a bit hasn’t it? – funny that its rarely gay people that get offended by stuff like this, seems to be a lot of odd unelected spokespersons erupting into an fury on their behalf.
Anyway, to the actual story…………………Foxtons really are going for this pair in quite spectacular fashion – the guy worked there for 12 years and was also at director level, now its been said that you cant send a duck to eagle school so im presuming Tim Hassell is a pretty switched on chap based just on his CV alone.
He has admitted it but in fairness they did find the data in question in his office so he hasn’t really got anywhere to go with that one, so what an absolute fool, he knows what Foxtons are like, he’s opened up down the road and started a fight that he’s about to loose, headline should have been
‘’FOXTONS SUE STUPID BLOKE THAT ANNOYED THEM’’
………..oh, maybe not that will offend the stupid community………….and the annoying sector of society – you just cant say anything anymore can you?
Jonnie
Well said Ray - all part of the continuing cissyfication of the UK, where free speech & free thought are now prohibited. The PC thought police need to toghen up & have thicker skins.
Does anyone believe the great centres of power (BBC, Parliament, C of E, Catholic Church, Royal courtiers, senior civil servants) have personnel that reflect the make up of the UK? Wakey wakey.
to be honest im more shocked with the fact that foxtons are actaully suing someone rather than being sued themselves!!!
No thank you PeeBrain, goodbye.
forget the controversey of alleged theft and gay estate agents, i met an agent the other day who DID NOT drive a German car!
O.K. - so it may have upset a few 'precious' people - but one now has to apologise for stating the truth in plain English?
I find the term 'deceptively spacious' offensive.
I am truly offended by the pathetic, pointless comments here!
It has not offended anyone, such a bunch of moaners.
Rosalind has put her hands up and apologised – end of story.
Get a life guys.
Aww Roz you didnt have to apologise - If any one has any issues please take it up with the Eveneing Stnadard whom Im sure will bend over backwards to accomodate you. Personally I think some posters have taken this too seriously maybe you can't get an erection these days in central London but the rest of the Uk has no problem with getting boards up these days.
Please can we all go back to what we are good at doing - sitting and waiting for the phone to ring rather than jockeying around for position. To be honest Im surprised no one has picked up on the fact that Foxtons say the data is worth millions - now that is really bending the truth some what.
From this post - "No, I do not have to write 'apology accepted' - it's not my place to accept apologies on behalf of people she offended"
From your previous post - "I was personally digusted that they quoted..."
Make your mind up. You demanded an apology - you got one. Have the decency to acknowledge the fact. Otherwise why demand?
Oh sod off and stop provoking arguements! Business slow today?
I'm sorry??!! No, I do not have to write 'apology accepted' - it's not my place to accept apologies on behalf of people she offended, however I felt it was right to support those who she did offend. Furthermore my very 'forthright demand' was my personal support to such offence from a supposed 'editor' who saw fit to use such terminolgy regarding a supposed 'professional' news item.
Thank you Rosalind.
"What the hell is wrong with 'partner' or 'boyfriend' for god sake?"
Hell? God? Why bring religion into it?
Now you'll start an entirely new debate...
Rosalind Renshaw "Voice of The Industry" Not Today me thinks!!!
Finaly on the reciving end.
Should you not therefore have had the decency to continue with "Apology accepted"?
After all - your very forthright demand was quickly and unreservedly met...
Already posted as I spoke....
I was personally digusted that they quoted "and his gay lover".
I have never seen, "and his straight lover"
What the hell is wrong with 'partner' or 'boyfriend' for god sake?
I think a post comment is required directly from EAT in response to the offense that they have caused which is clear from the posts here.
What a joke.
As the Editor of EAT, I would like to apologise unreservedly for the headline that went out with this story. I have no excuses and am very sorry indeed.
The original headline – which as one of the posters has noted – was almost identical to how the London Evening Standard reported this yesterday. I posted this headline up at 7.45am this morning, but swiftly realised it was an offensive headline that had nothing to do with the story. As you can perhaps see, I changed the headline over the story itself, but was too late to change the headline that went out with the email.
Again, I am extremely sorry and take the comments on board. This should not have happened.
Rosalind.
Marc....whats with the demand for an apology? You havent been mentioned personally in this article have you? Talk about being a Diva!
If you are so upset by the horrible nasty people at EA then just log off and unsubscribe yourself...simple and easy to do.
I personally thought that it meant that they were "happy" and being prosecuted because they were "happy" and not that they had stiffed their previous employer , nor where they bent and had acted inappropiately -
I dont understand how writing to Roz is going to alter this as it was reported in the standard and the rat and mouse under the same headline - with all this attraction being shown I think the case will be kicked out of court creating a legal precedent whereby gay couples will be able to rob anyone and not be prosecuted - not being funny but don't you all have better things to do like educating your vendors on reducing all the over priced stock rather than causing even more issues to the poor old UK housing market - some people eh !
Vossy - exactly! How one word can change the whole emphasis is amazing. (Alleged) theft is (alleged) theft - no matter who by, or for what reasons...
mark: I think they will have got the message by now. I didn't like the email title (it didn't 'offend' me - but I knew it would upset many so I commented); I've said my piece on here - job done. What's said (or emailed as is the case here...) cannot be unsaid. Let's put a lid on it here - for everyone's sake...
London Agent - you have just written the ultimate dictionary definition of journalism. It isn't designed to be 'balanced' - what would be the point of that? Sensationalism is fine - but there are boundaries which even I think have been crossed with this one. An (alleged...) crook is an (alleged...) crook. But trial by orientation - what's that about?? The PC Brigade will be having convulsions at this one...
I've just written to rosalind.renshaw@estateagenttoday.co.uk
and urge everyone else who finds the headline offensive to do the same:
I must write to you to object to Estate Agent Today’s use of their sensationalistic headline and use of the word Gay to promote homosexuality in an offensive and demeaning way.
You represent a professional industry and I would have expected more from you and your journalists.
I look forward to your response before I consider promoting a boycott of your services to all our central London fellow Estate Agents, several of which are also disgusted by this headline and believe that you should post an apology to all your subscribers who may have found the headline offensive. It may interest you to know that you already have complaints registered on the article itself.
The article does not mention it but the email subject that landed in my inbox did.
The only reason EAT used the "Foxtons suing gay couple..." banner is to attract viewers to this website. This traffic to their website can then be used as statistics to sell more advertising. A nothing to do with the quality of the journalism which is usually sloppy and very one sided.
Hey Phil and Tony..calm down! This story doesnt mention the word "Gay" and the only refernce to their sexuality is that Mr Andrew as described as "a business partner and husband to Mr Hassle". The real issue is theft from an employer and you are very quiet on this count.
What they did was dishonest and plain theft and they deserve everything they get...irrespective of their sexuality.
Come on, Rebel - see sense for once! What kind of journalism needs to reveal sexual orientation in a information theft case?
It would never have said "PeeBee, married with two grown-up children and a Grandson" - would it??
Write the article; state the facts; give names - the audience will pick up on the 'juicy bits' if that's what lights their fires...
This article has done the rounds and all of them have mentioned the sexuality of the two people involved - personally I blame it on the recent papal visit as we all know not all agents are bent.
I have to agree with Phil here. Only I wouldn't have said "rude". Irrelevant; sensationalist; the list goes on.
We poor 'straighties' will no doubt be "outed" in future headlines...
A fact is a fact. Would you have liked the money laundering story the other day to have described the accused as Mr X, Y & Z, so that we didn't know they has Asian names.
Please leave the reader to have freedom of thought...or go back to reading The Grauniad.
I agree totally - change the title EAT - it's offensive and totally unrelated.
This was reported first in the London Evening Standard with the same headline. Some sloppy editorial for EAToday. Amazingly the headline provoked exactly the same reaction from the Standard readers. Time for some editors/writers to move into the 21st century
I had a former employee that did that. She poached a small amount of our business, some of which we have won back. At the end of the day if you are doing a great job for the landlord, and if the landlord appreciates that, they should stay with you. Nevertheless it is a painful kick in balls.
I find it insulting that the article headline talks of the sexuality of the person involved. This has NOTHING to do with the crime or the issue..very sloppy journalism!
I recieved this story by email with the subject line "Foxtons suing gay couple over database theft claims" Can you please explain what on earth the sexual orientation of these individuals has to do with the story? How very rude.