For seven years, Bartell worked as an independent contractor for Axi-Line Precision, a division of Hicklin that designs and makes testing equipment for vehicle transmissions. Bartell quit working for Axi-Line and formed a competing business that sells transmission testing equipment. Hicklin sued for violation of Wisconsin's Uniform Trade Secrets Act. The judge held for Bartell. Hicklin appealed.

1. The appeals court held that Bartell could be found to have taken trade secrets from Hicklin, if any of Hicklin's trade-secrets are found in Bartell's products. Why did Hicklin not have Bartell sign a trade secret agreement? Would that have mattered?
2. If Bartell did all of the engineering work for Hicklin, then could he still be liable for theft of trade secret?