This is a live and learn moment. There might be a legal / contractual reason you are entitled to them, but you'd have to sue the legal current legal owner to ge

This is a live and learn moment. There might be a legal / contractual reason you are entitled to them, but you'd have to sue the legal current legal owner to get them, if they won't otherwise turn them over. The terms might be codified in some sort of employee agreement / vesting agreement. For example, you could demand the emails, as a part of "returning company property." If they don't, you might be able to pursue legal action, that would entitle you to discovery.