A group of fired scientists facing an $849 million allegation of stealing trade secrets from their former employer successfully countered with a claim of fiduciary duty, winning a $26.6 million verdict in Pennsylvania.

The plaintiff, Sigmapharm Laboratories LLC, accused its former employees of stealing secrets and setting up competing drug companies. But attorneys for the defendants asserted that, even after a decade of litigation, the Sigmapharm had no evidence to back up its claims.