Lawsuit challenges NC law against telling company secrets

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Animal rights and other groups are suing to stop a new North Carolina law that helps employers punish people who get hired to steal company secrets or dig up dirt.

The federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Center for Food Safety and other groups, saying the law violates free-speech and equal protection rights. State legislators passed the law last summer over the veto of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.

Opponents say the law was passed to end hidden-camera exposes of animal cruelty at farms or meat-packing plants and could intimidate other employees from reporting misdeeds like elder abuse at nursing homes.

North Carolina’s business lobby pressed for the law, saying more protections were needed against people who land jobs to steal intellectual property.

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