WorldVentures filed a lawsuit on June 4th against Ariix and MaVie, alleging unfair competition and the misappropriation of trade secrets. The suit centers on a confidentiality agreement that WorldVentures claims Abboud Barakat and his company, Advanced Wellness Solutions, breached. Barakat allegedly received proprietary information and business strategies from WorldVentures before a deal between the companies fell through.
The core of the legal action claims Barakat and Advanced Wellness Solutions used this confidential data to benefit Ariix and the launch of MaVie, a new multi-level marketing venture where Barakat serves as CEO. WorldVentures asserts that Barakat, through Advanced Wellness Solutions, also supplies products to Ariix.
The complaint names six former WorldVentures employees as defendants: Jonathan McKillip, Kyle Lowe, Anthony Fitzgerald, Michelle Siddy, Kemble Morgan, and Daniel Audet. These individuals, who previously held executive and management positions at WorldVentures or affiliated entities, are accused of now being associated with MaVie, Ariix, Advanced Wellness Solutions, or Barakat himself. Their employment agreements with WorldVentures reportedly contained clauses restricting the use of proprietary information.
McKillip was President of WorldVentures Marketing International until December 2017. Lowe served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales & International Expansion, resigning in February 2018. Fitzgerald was Asia-Pacific Sales Director before his contract termination in March 2018. Siddy was Director of Sales & Marketing for Northern Europe, resigning in August 2017. Morgan was Country Manager for Australia and Asia Pacific Sales Director, with his contract terminated in April 2018. Audet was an International Operations Consultant, resigning in November 2016.
WorldVentures contends that these former employees are now working with or representing MaVie and Ariix. The company alleges a conspiracy among Advanced Wellness Solutions, Barakat, Ariix, and MaVie to use WorldVentures’ confidential information and unfairly compete. The lawsuit specifically claims that these entities have improperly recruited current and former WorldVentures employees.
The alleged trade secrets shared included customer lists, supplier details, third-party contacts, product and service information, and extensive business, marketing, development, and sales strategies. The agreement with Barakat and Advanced Wellness Solutions explicitly prohibited the use of this information. WorldVentures seeks damages for the alleged unlawful use of its proprietary data and the resulting unfair competition.