Timing of Air Canada lawsuit against WestJet 'suspect,' WestJet says
Canadian Press
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
CALGARY (CP) - The timing and motivation of an Air Canada lawsuit against WestJet that alleges the Calgary-based carrier stole confidential business information from its larger competitor is "suspect," WestJet said Wednesday.
In a carefully worded but terse statement, WestJet said it will conduct a "thorough investigation" of its own to the allegations that it used the personal identification number of a former employee of Canadian Airlines - which was bought by Air Canada four years ago - to access information about Air Canada's most profitable routes and schedules.
But WestJet said its review will seek "to identify further information which may serve to portray a more accurate representation of the facts."
WestJet also said that two of its employees named in the suit - Jeffrey Lafond, the former Canadian Airlines employee who now works at WestJet as a financial analyst, and Mark Hill, WestJet's vice-president of strategic planning - have accepted a company request to take a leave of absence while the review is conducted.
"WestJet is suspect of both the timing and motivation of the legal action, but does take the allegations very seriously nonetheless," WestJet said in its statement.
As for Lafond and Hill, WestJet said the leaves of absence granted the employees "does not in any way reflect the company's opinion of the conduct of these individuals, but does ensure that the internal investigation can be conducted in the most appropriate environment."
...The lawsuit also comes at a time when WestJet is expanding its routes and eating away more of Air Canada's once-dominant market share. The suit was also filed less than two weeks before WestJet will begin doubling its flights in and out of Toronto to 365 per week, up from 146, beginning April 18.
...WestJet said it is still reviewing the statement of claim and supporting documents filed by Air Canada, but added that it is "deeply concerned that there has been a challenge to the integrity of our company and our employees.
"We take very seriously our business code of conduct and have worked hard to entrench it into our corporate culture."...
http://www.canada.com/businesscentre...A-857B0223037E