It is quite difficult to start, grow, and sustain a successful small business in America.  The odds are all against you.  Every year, over a million people in this country start a business of some sort.  Statistics tell us that by the end of the first year at least 40 percent of them will be out of business.  Within five years, more than 80 percent of them- 800,000 – will have failed.1  On top of these staggering odds, Chris Johnson and The Johnson Group, Inc. also faced a lawsuit from his former employer Aerotek, a billion dollar staffing company.  The trail commenced on March 15, 2010 and lasted almost two weeks.

The Johnson Group resoundingly prevailed in its jury and court trial against industry-giant Aerotek, defeating Aerotek’s damage and injunctive relief claims.  The jury ruled that The Johnson Group and an ex-Aerotek employee, Michael Ponce, did not cause any harm to Aerotek as a result of alleged solicitations of Aerotek’s clients.  Aerotek had brought a claim under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act alleging that they had sustained multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and that The Johnson Group had correspondingly been unjustly enriched due to The Johnson Group’s alleged misappropriation of Aerotek’s clients and client contact information.  The Johnson Group defended against the claims by arguing that in the staffing industry it is the clients that “own” the relationships and that because most employers use multiple staffing companies to fill highly technical vacancies, that the employers chose with whom they want to do business.  The Johnson Group further argued that simply because the Johnson Group was able to make successful placements, in full and fair competition against Aerotek, that Aerotek could not reasonably support a case that any business loss was caused by The Johnson Group’s conduct.  According to lead defense counsel, Carl Calnero, “The jury’s conclusion vindicated the Johnson Group’s position on this case from day one.  Aerotek’s arrogant position that it owned its business relationships with its clients exclusively was wholeheartedly rejected.  In this industry, the clients chose who they wanted to utilize for their staffing needs.”

In addition, Judge Brian Van Camp, who presided over the trial rejected Aerotek’s request for a permanent injunction wherein Aerotek alleged false advertising and unfair competition as a result of confidential internet postings – dubbed “ghost postings” by Aerotek, ruled that Aerotek had failed to meet its burden to establish any causal connection between the postings and any alleged harm to Aerotek or to any consumer.

After nearly 3 years in litigation and approximately $1,000,000 spent by Aerotek in attorneys fees, The Johnson Group, Inc. was victorious.

“This is a huge victory for The Johnson Group, Inc.  We have been running this race with a 100 Pound weight on our back, now that we can finally take that weight off, we will see how fast we can run.”

Through all of the adversity over the last 3 years Chris Johnson and The Johnson Group, Inc. have somehow managed to obtain incredible success.  Since its inception in 2006, the company has grown to a staff of 11 employees and has seen revenue of $3.3 Million.  The company was recognized by Sacramento Business Journal as the 7th Fastest Growing Company in the Sacramento Area, Chris Johnson was also nominated as a finalist for the 40 under 40.

“I attribute my success to my lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Despite my dismal reality and my incredibly difficult circumstances, I knew he would never leave or forsake me.”  Because of my undeniable faith in God, I was able to endure and thrive despite the obstacles that came against me.”

Christopher Johnson resides in Elk Grove, with his wife Shawna and their three children.

The Johnson Group, Inc. is a Certified SEED Contractor with SMUD, a Certified Small Business with the State of California, a Certified Underutilized Business Enterprise (UDBE) with CALTRANS, and Certified 8(a) with the Federal Government (pending).

The Johnson Group, Inc. has won several projects as a prime and subcontractor with SMUD, Army Corp of Engineers, and the City of Paradise to name a few.  The company has a staff of 11 that include Licensed Engineers, Licensed Architects, Schedulers, Field Technicians, Electricians, Chemists and Geologists.   The Johnson Group is also a proud member of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce.