A New London Superior Court jury has ordered Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Charles River Analytics Inc. to pay $839,423 plus punitive damages to a small Groton-based research and design and development company in a trade-secrets theft case.

In a case that examines how defendant Charles River Analytics treated, worked and possibly colluded with two former employees of plaintiff LBI Inc., the lead counsel for LBI told the Connecticut Law Tribune on Tuesday he believes the case hinged on the testimony of the presidents of the two companies.