On May 10, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted summary judgment to Sidley client, Curevo, Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company whose majority shareholder is Green Cross Corporation, a South Korean pharmaceutical company.
At the crux of the dispute was whether Teddy Choe, a member of Curevo’s Scientific Advisory Board, was an employee, as he claimed, or an independent contractor, and whether he was wrongfully terminated. The Court agreed with Curevo, granting its motion for summary judgment and dismissing Choe’s claim in its entirety. This matter is of significant importance because of the great deference given to employment status and a history of unfounded allegations made by Mr. Choe, not only against Curevo, but also against Green Cross in South Korea. The case is entitled Curevo, Inc. v. Senyon Teddy Choe, No. 2:19-cv-00572-RSL.
The Sidley team included Wendy Lazerson, Cecilia Chan, Robin Wechkin, and Jana Kurka.