Taylor & Co v Peffer

The case of Taylor & Co v Peffer involved a dispute between Taylor & Co, an accountancy practice, and Alwyn Lindsay Peffer, a former employee who had left the practice to set up his own business. Taylor & Co alleged that Peffer breached his contractual, fiduciary, and statutory obligations by taking confidential information and clients to compete with Taylor & Co. Peffer denied the allegations and counterclaimed for a bonus he believed was owed to him. The court found that Peffer breached his fiduciary duty by taking advantage of his position at Taylor & Co to advance his own interests. Peffer concealed his intentions to leave the company and compete with it, misled the company about his plans, and took confidential information and clients with him when he left. The court awarded Taylor & Co $130,000 in damages for the loss of clients, interest on that amount, and damages for conversion of furniture. The court dismissed Peffer's counterclaim for a bonus.