PeopleSoft Sues Recruiter Harris Group

PeopleSoft Inc. sued Chicago recruiting company Harris Group, accusing the start-up of using secret information about its employees’ salaries and skills to try to hire them away. The Pleasanton-based developer of applications software filed suit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claiming that Harris is guilty of unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets. The case is unusual because Harris, which has just 25 employees, intends to create a large business made up of consultants with expertise in PeopleSoft products, as well as separate units to provide expertise in Oracle Corp. products. Unfair recruitment lawsuits usually focus on the hiring of a few individuals. A Harris spokesman said that the company got its information from PeopleSoft employees who have contacted his company, and that none of them have yet been hired. PeopleSoft’s suit seeks unspecified damages. Harris said it will countersue.