ConsumerDirect Sues Rival for Stealing Trade Secrets

Credit management firm alleges former consultant and competitor conspired to divert business partners using sensitive information.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 3:36am

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ConsumerDirect Inc., a consumer finance technology company, has filed a lawsuit against MyFreeScoreNow Inc. and its founder Bruce Cornelius, alleging they stole the company's valuable trade secrets and conspired with a former ConsumerDirect consultant to wrongfully divert its business partners using sensitive information.

Why it matters

The case highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property and trade secrets in the highly competitive consumer finance technology industry, where companies invest heavily in developing proprietary technologies and customer relationships.

The details

According to the lawsuit, ConsumerDirect has spent tens of millions of dollars and years developing the intellectual property and trade secrets that are the foundation of its business. The company alleges that MyFreeScoreNow and Cornelius conspired with former ConsumerDirect consultant Justin Wilson to wrongfully use ConsumerDirect's sensitive business information to divert its business partners.

  • The lawsuit was filed on March 24, 2026 in the Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, California.

The players

ConsumerDirect, Inc.

A subscription-based consumer fintech platform operating at the intersection of credit, financial intelligence, and privacy protection. The company has 23 granted and issued patents covering its unique technologies and designs, along with 14 registered trademarks.

MyFreeScoreNow Inc.

A competitor of ConsumerDirect that is accused of stealing the company's trade secrets and conspiring with a former ConsumerDirect consultant to divert its business partners.

Bruce Cornelius

The founder of MyFreeScoreNow Inc., who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit along with the company.

Justin Wilson

A former ConsumerDirect consultant who is accused of conspiring with MyFreeScoreNow and Cornelius to wrongfully use ConsumerDirect's sensitive business information.

David B. Coulter

The CEO of ConsumerDirect, who stated that the company will protect the intellectual property it has spent millions developing.

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What they’re saying

“Intellectual property and trade secrets are the foundation of our business and essential to how we serve customers. Our company exists to help consumers, not file lawsuits, but we will protect the intellectual property that we have spent tens of millions of dollars and years developing.”

— David B. Coulter, CEO, ConsumerDirect, Inc.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the request for injunctive relief and damages in the coming months.

The takeaway

This lawsuit underscores the importance of safeguarding intellectual property and trade secrets in the highly competitive consumer finance technology industry, where companies invest heavily in developing proprietary technologies and customer relationships.