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A WELL-KNOWN architectural firm has sued three interior designers for breaching their employment contracts by moonlighting.
But the defendants insist that they were not employees but instead, had gone into a profit-sharing business venture with Ong & Ong Architects.
The defendants are also counter-claiming about $230,000 for what they say is their share of the profits under the arrangement.
The case opened in the High Court on Monday, with the company's chairman and director, Mr Ong Tze Boon, 39, as the first witness.
Mr Ong is the second son of late President Ong Teng Cheong, who founded the firm in 1972 with his wife Siew May.
The lawsuit is brought by Ong & Ong Architects and its interior design and landscaping arm Ong & Ong.
The three-year relationship between the architectural firm and the defendants started amicably, the court heard.
In 2003, Mr Ong approached Mr Leslie Seow, who was then partners with Ms Rachel Yee at a small interior design firm, Six Planes & Partners (SPP).
This was part of a plan to acquire small companies and hire specialists so that the firm can provide integrated services, including interior design and landscaping.
Ong & Ong was then set up to carry out the non-architectural services.
The plaintiffs' lawyer, Senior Counsel Philip Jeyaretnam, said in his opening statement that Mr Seow, Ms Yee, Mr Ridzuan Sarbini signed employment letters and were paid fixed salaries and CPF and given leave entitlements and various benefits.
He said Ms Yee and Mr Seow agreed to stop doing business under SPP but it was agreed that their firm would continue to exist to collect money earned earlier. Mr Ridzuan was hired in March 2004.
But the trio allegedly surreptitiously provided services on their own and used the plaintiffs' resources for these moonlighting activities.
Mr Seow and Ms Yee were fired when the firm discovered the alleged moonlighting at the end of 2006. Mr Ridzuan resigned around the same time.
The trial continues before Justice Belinda Ang.
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