A federal judge in Austin has awarded MWK Recruiting, a search firm in Austin owned by Robert Kinney, a total of $3.64 million in damages after finding that former employee Evan Jowers breached an employment contract and misappropriated trade secrets to make a profit.

In a 44-page findings of fact and conclusions of law issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman of the Western District of Texas awarded the plaintiff $515,326 for misappropriation of trade secrets, $3,082,841 for breach of an employment agreement, and a total of $41,963 for repayment of loans, for a total of $3,640,132.

Pittman wrote he will award reasonable attorney fees to MWK for breach of the agreement and the loans. The judge's order follows a bench trial in December 2021.