The CEO HR giant Deel says he should not be a defendant in lawsuit taken by rival, Rippling, arising from an alleged corporate spying conspiracy. Former Dublin-based Rippling employee, Keith O’Brien, earlier this year admitted to spying on his then-employer for Deel, allegedly on the instruction of Mr Bouaziz. Rippling brought High Court proceedings against Mr O’Brien following the uncovering of his spying activity, but later entered into a settlement agreement with the Dubliner. Mr Dowling argued that on Deel’s own pleaded case, it is accepted Mr Bouaziz, Mr Mieli and Mr Malik are agents of the company, and Deel appears to take responsibility for their actions. Mr McGrath submitted that while Rippling’s claims against Mr Bouaziz, Mr Mieli and Mr Malik arise out of the same “factual matrix” as the claims against Mr O’Brien, this was not sufficient to give the court jurisdiction to join Mr Bouaziz, Mr Mieli and Mr Malik.
