Snepp v. United States, 444 U.S. 507 (1980)

Snepp v. United States


No. 78-1871


Decided February 19, 1980 *
444 U.S. 507

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES
COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Held: A former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency, who had agreed not to divulge classified information without authorization and not to publish any information relating to the Agency without prepublication clearance, breached a fiduciary obligation when he published a book about certain Agency activities without submitting his manuscript for prepublication review. The proceeds of his breach are impressed with a constructive trust for the benefit of the Government.

Certiorari granted; 595 F.2d 926, reversed in part and remanded.