Wednesday, November 19, 2008

EMPLOYEE COUNTERSUITS

Many of our clients ask us to represent their interests in defending a breach of contract/noncompete agreement filed by their former employer. Our first step is to learn everything we can about the client's former employer and our client's job responsibilities with his former and current employer. We also talk about getting offensive!

Former employees should vigorously defend themselves against unfair and unenforceable noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements but they may also pursue their own claim against their former employer. How does this situation arise? Lets say the former employer sends a letter to the ex-employee's current employer and warns them about the noncompete agreement and threatens to sue the ex-employee and the her/his new employer for breaching the noncompete. The typical result is the former employee gets terminated by the new employer.

What remedy is available to the employee? How about a suit for:

1. Intentional Interference With Prospective Contract; or

2. Intentional Interference With Prospective Business or Economic Advantage.

Both of these claims are recognized under Virginia law. Consult with your attorney to determine whether either of these remedies are available to you.

1 comments:

God help Me/Us said...

I realize this is a blog and I should comment but I need help.

What is someone to do (my sister) who was working at an all male salon, decided she wanted to cut women's hair and moved to a coed salon within the same mall, she signed a non-compete agreement with the previous employer however, I don't understand how that would affect my sister and her new employer because there are no trade secrets being shared, the salons have two seperate concepts ie. 1 is all men, the other is coed. How does a young woman defend her right to work with little to no money???? Why is the legal system designed to help those with money? I just don't get it, and with today's economy how is she supposed to find another job? wendybal@verizon.net or wendy@comcast.net

Please, any advice???

Would you like Frith Law Firm to
review your non-compete, or discuss your options?
Contact us by phone: 540-985-0098,
or visit us online at http://www.frithlawfirm.com/.

Our business litigation practice centers around non-competition clauses, breach of contract, non-solicitation clauses, proprietary information claims, etc.

We serve all of Virginia and would be honored to help assess your options or handle your business litigation needs.