By: Tresa Baldas
The National Law Journal

The secret recipe for Thomas' English Muffins is putting to the test an unsettled legal doctrine: that you can sue someone out of fear that he might steal your trade secrets.

In a highly watched trade secrets case in Pennsylvania, Bimbo Bakeries USA is going after former executive Chris Botticella, a 20-year employee who allegedly told the company he was retiring when he was really taking a job with rival Hostess Brands Inc. According to court records, Botticella signed a confidentiality agreement last March after being promoted to manage a California facility that makes Thomas' English Muffins. Bimbo Bakeries says he is one of fewer than 10 people in the world who know how to make the muffins with the special "nooks and crannies."