William Robedee, ex-general counsel of Lenox Corp., says the suit that Lenox filed against him after he went to work for a competitor threatens every in-house counsel who seeks a new job.

“Each and every allegation is materially false,” said an angry Robedee, reached by CorpCounsel.com Monday at a trade show in Chicago. “The suit takes frivolous litigation to new and exciting heights.”

Robedee labeled the suit “underhanded bullying tactics” and “employee retention by intimidation.” He added that “other companies incentivize people key to their operations so they don't want to leave. … Maybe they [Lenox executives] need to rethink how they retain talent in their organization.”