San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Wiretap Column.

Byline: Peter Delevett

Sep. 25--With the dot-com meltdown wreaking havoc in the venture capital community, a growing number of disgruntled VCs are filing suit against their partners.

Take James Wickett, who until last spring was a member of Cupertino's venerable Bay Partners.

In a suit filed last month in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Wickett claims his partners unfairly squeezed him out, costing him millions in potential investment profits.

Bay Partners didn't return repeated phone calls seeking comments. Wickett, through his attorney, also declined to talk.

But VCs would do well to pay attention to the case. If Wickett's legal strategy succeeds, it could shake up the way venture firms are organized.

VC …