The company at the heart of a recent lawsuit filed by Mayo Clinic wants to become involved in the case.

 Mayo has sued the former CEO of its Mayo Medical Laboratories division who retired at the end of September to take a new job with Quest Diagnostics.  That company is a major competitor of Mayo but is not included in the lawsuit.

Last Friday, an Olmsted County judge issued an order that among other things, prohibits Dr. Franklin Cockerill from having any contact with Quest until further notice. Quest  filed a request this week to be allowed to interview Cockerill and a judge agreed. According to its filing, Quest wants to interview Cockerill because like Mayo,  it  “ wants to determine the truth “ in the doctor’s departure from Mayo.

Kim David/Townsquare Media
Kim David/Townsquare Media
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In its court filings, Quest says Cockerill told company officials he had informed Mayo in June he had accepted his new job.  Quest says Cockerill also said Mayo had allowed him to stay until he retired at the end of September, when he would begin his new job.

Mayo’s suit indicates Cockerill concealed his relationship with Quest and that he took confidential information and trade secrets with him.

A top Quest official says he was “ surprised by the allegations “ and that the company has no desire to acquire or use Mayo’s trade secrets.

Quest says it has  a right  to defend Mayo’s allegations  and protect its reputation. The company says the facts will show it did not knowingly receive any confidential information.

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