Tavo Hellmund added as defendant to Circuit of the Americas

Tavo Hellmund

Tavo Hellmund and Circuit of the Americas are back in court.

The circuit, which will host its first Formula One race Nov. 16-18, is seeking a temporary restraining order against the track’s former founding partner.

Hellmund on Tuesday was added as a defendant in a lawsuit filed last month in district court in Travis County against Dallas-based public relations firm Rocket Red.

The circuit is asking that Hellmund be prevented from divulging any of the circuit’s trade secrets, destroying or altering any records in his possession or using any of the circuit’s trademarks. Organizers are also seeking damages, court and attorney fees.

The suit, and the request for a restraining order, is a result of an email blast that was sent to many of the circuit’s subscribers on Oct 17. The email included a video with the urging, “Must See – Circuit of The Americas History Video!," that included clips of Hellmund at several press conferences and interviews.

The circuit claims subscribers feared that the circuit was violating the law and the terms on its website.

According to the circuit’s petition, Gayden Day of Rocket Red testified that Hellmund provided a mailing list on a flash drive prior to the email being sent.

Hellmund and the circuit parted ways a year ago, and he and the circuit signed a sealed agreement in June. The circuit claims Hellmund agreed not to directly or indirectly disclose any of the circuit’s information.

The petition claims, “The evidence shows that Defendant Hellmund has access to, and is likely to continue to use, misappropriate and/or disclose those trade secrets and confidential information to the Plaintiffs detriment unless immediately enjoined."

Casey Dobson, an attorney for Hellmund, said his client “is not, has not and will not" use any of the circuit’s proprietary information and would be happy to sign an agreement to that effect. The Statesman