Lawsuit claims two executives forwarded hundreds of files before sending profane mass resignation email
Two staffing company employees allegedly copied hundreds of confidential files before quitting, then jumped to a competitor while still collecting paychecks from their former employer.
Employment Solutions Management Inc., the largest industrial staffing company in the United States, sued two former workers and their new employer in late October, accusing them of stealing trade secrets and poaching employees.
The case offers a look at the risks companies face when employees give notice, particularly in competitive industries where customer relationships and proprietary information matter.
Chris Bland and Theresa Graves worked in the Tulsa office of ProDrivers, a division of Employbridge that places commercial truck drivers with clients. According to the lawsuit filed October 23 in federal court in Oklahoma, Bland spent the two weeks before his resignation forwarding company files to his personal email account.
Starting September 12, Bland sent himself at least twelve emails containing more than 200 attachments with customer lists, pricing models, service contracts, and prospect information. The files allegedly included details most companies would guard: which decision-makers to contact at each client, revenue figures, billing schedules, and specifics about clients' truck fleets.
The company claims these documents would give a competitor a detailed roadmap for establishing a foothold in the commercial driver staffing industry.
The situation began on September 4, when an Employbridge employee reminded Bland and Graves to log in by the 8 a.m. start time, noting they had occasionally been late. Later that day, Bland filed a complaint with human resources, criticizing remote supervisors in Salt Lake City and blaming them for low morale and poor sales performance. He listed Graves as a supporting witness.
The company investigated and recommended corrective actions by September 17. But by then, Bland and Graves had apparently decided to leave. On September 23, they drafted their resignation letter. Three days later, they sent it company-wide.
The message was colorful. "You are ALL hateful, Deceitful, and Disgusting human beings," it read, concluding with: "May the fleas of a thousand elephants infest your armpit."
Employbridge immediately cut off their system access but kept them on payroll through their two-week notice period, which ended October 10. Even without access, Bland tried logging into the company's Salesforce system on October 1. The attempt failed.
What happened next raised more questions. On October 2, while still employed by Employbridge, both workers began working for the benefit of Drivers Plus, a competitor. Employbridge discovered this when emails from a Drivers Plus employee accidentally went to Graves's old work inbox.
The company also alleges the pair started recruiting. On their final day of employment, October 10, a ProDrivers worker called Bland with a work question. Bland allegedly told him that both he and Graves had left ProDrivers, that ProDrivers was no longer providing services in the Oklahoma City area, and that he could get the worker a job at Drivers Plus. When the worker declined, Graves reportedly told him that ProDrivers was dissolving. The worker checked with his manager and learned the company was still operating.
Both Bland and Graves had signed agreements when they were hired, promising not to solicit employees or customers for twelve months after leaving and to keep company information confidential. Bland signed his in August 2024; Graves signed hers in May 2025. The agreements also required them to tell new employers about these restrictions.
Employbridge claims People Source and Drivers Plus knew or should have known about the agreements. The company emailed copies to executives at both firms on October 9. It also argues the competitors should have known such restrictions existed, given they have operated for years in the same industry and geographic area.
The lawsuit accuses Bland of violating federal and Oklahoma trade secrets laws and breaching his duty of loyalty. Both he and Graves face breach of contract claims. People Source and Drivers Plus are accused of interfering with those contracts.
Employbridge wants the files back, an order blocking further violations, and monetary damages. The company is also seeking access to any personal devices or cloud accounts where its data might be stored.
