A common mistake employers make in protecting their business interests is poorly drafted non-compete agreements. And frequently that mistake involves drafting inconsistencies. As explained below, inconsistencies provide a foundation for challenging the scope or outright enforceability of a company’s non-compete restriction. In this regard, we recently defended against Christian Financial Insurance/Christian Insurance Group, Inc.’s motion … Continue Reading
Will the playing field be leveled between employers and employees when it comes to non-compete agreements? Perhaps if anything comes out of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) hearings held last 9/13 and 9/14, which focused on how the agency’s competition and consumer protection approaches are working. One area of focus is whether enforcement practices need to … Continue Reading
A former employee recently sued MedMar Inc. and its related companies. The suit, Greenswag v MedMar Inc., pending in the Cook County Circuit Court, alleges the defendants made misrepresentations about the employment opportunity to induce him to sign a non-compete restriction. I haven’t reviewed the complaint, but these sorts of claims are often unsuccessful. This is … Continue Reading
A recent noncompete case from Minnesota offers a cautionary tale for employers and cause for celebration for employees. The case, Safety Center, Inc. v. Stier, (11/6/17), involved an employer that ran a treatment center for special-needs sex offenders. The employer sought to enforce its noncompete agreement against a former program director (Stier). The noncompete agreement … Continue Reading
One advantage employers often have when it comes to non-compete disputes is time; Employers may win the war without ever doing battle simply by running out the clock. This point was a central issue in a case pending before the Michigan Court of Appeals that our law firm recently argued. Specifically, on October 4, 2017, I … Continue Reading
Using a broad brush to draft noncompete agreements that are applied universally to a company’s workforce is increasingly coming under fire. And this exposes companies to unnecessary litigation risks, as well as legal fees associated with enforcement costs. Employer Abuse of Noncompete Restrictions A recent example of involves Law360 and its settlement with the New … Continue Reading
A lawsuit involving trade secret misappropriation recently brought to mind the definition of a “knee-jerk reaction;” an “automatic and unthinking” response. Specifically, our law firm filed a lawsuit for breach of contract involving unpaid commissions and other claims on behalf of a former executive. In response, the former employer manufactured filed a counter-claim for trade secret misappropriation … Continue Reading
The Wall Street Journal, by Aruna Viswanatha, recently asked whether Noncompete Agreements Hobble Junior Employees. Spoiler alert — they do. According to the Journal: Noncompete agreements—common in computing and engineering jobs, where proprietary technology can be at stake—are spreading to other industries and stretching further down the corporate ladder. Labor-law experts say some employers appear … Continue Reading
When it comes to post employment restrictions, non-compete agreements often get all the attention. In fact, such restrictions are a frequent subject of discussion on our law firm’s blog (Noncompete Restrictions: The First Line of Defense for Protecting the Company from Unfair Competition). However, as explained below, a carefully drafted non-solicitation provision should be in … Continue Reading
We recently wrote about the importance of having an enforceable noncompete in place in order to protect your business (Noncompete Restrictions: The First Line of Defense for Protecting the Company from Unfair Competition). But when it is necessary to obtain and injunction and to enforce that agreement, companies can’t expect to bluff their way to … Continue Reading
Business involves competition. But not all competition is lawful. Two former employees found this out the hard way after a judge determined on May 22, 2015 that they had wrongfully started a competing business while they continued to work for their employer along with misappropriating trade secrets and engaging in other wrongful acts (Nedschroef Detroit … Continue Reading
Not many people would jump out of a plane and then worry about figuring out what to do about a parachute on the way down. But often times individuals take that approach when it comes to starting a new business or taking a job after having signed a non-compete agreement. And that lack of planning can … Continue Reading
Crain’s Detroit, by Dustin Walsh, reported last week that this year marks the 30 year anniversary of arguably the most significant Michigan court opinion concerning non-compete agreements. See “30 Years Later, A Noncompete Ruling has Been Forged into Law.” The case referenced in this article comes from a January 17, 1985 Michigan Supreme Court decision … Continue Reading
A recent Delaware court case invalidating an employer’s non-compete agreement provides a cautionary reminder for companies with operations and employees in multiple states. Specifically, in Ascension Ins. Holdings, LLC v. Underwood (Delaware, Jan. 28, 2015) the company, Ascension was incorporated in Delaware, but headquartered in California. California was also where the employee, Roberts Underwood worked. … Continue Reading
Uber and Lyft are both internet and mobile application based technology companies offering a peer-to-peer ridesharing platform. Or for less tech-speak, they are involved in what is generally described as the “sharing economy.” However, a recent lawsuit makes clear that sharing has its limits. Specifically, Lyft is suing a former executive (Lyft v Uber (PDF)), … Continue Reading
Abraham Lincoln once noted that if he had six hours to chop down a tree, he would spend the first four sharpening the axe. For employers, that sort of up-front attention to details is especially important when it comes to non-compete agreements. Otherwise, as a recent Michigan Court of Appeals illustrates, the only thing likely to … Continue Reading
Our law firm was recently hired to represent clients – former employees – being sued for allegedly violating a noncompete agreement, trade secret misappropriation, and other business related claims. As is typical with these sorts of cases, the Plaintiff, the former employer, was seeking injunctive relief in the form of a temporary restraining order (TRO) … Continue Reading
“Sticking feathers up your butt, does not make you a chicken.“ Tyler Durden, Fight Club Under Michigan law, one required element for having an enforceable non-compete agreement is a “reasonable competitive business interest.” But, like the chicken quote, business owners can’t expect to just stick the phrase “reasonable competitive business interest” into an employee agreement … Continue Reading
Trade secret theft continues to be a major concern (or it should be) for businesses. And the numbers back up this conclusion; In an article by by Will Yakowicz, appearing in Inc., “How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Trade Secret Theft,” it’s noted that: Criminal theft of corporate trade secrets is reaching epidemic levels, experts say … … Continue Reading
Under Michigan law, requiring current employees to sign a non-compete agreement presents unique issues for employers when it comes to having an enforceable agreement.… Continue Reading
Enforcing noncompete agreements will depend upon state law. What law applies will be critical for determining if a noncompete agreement is enforceable.… Continue Reading
In a previous post (Noncompete Agreements – A Hurdle to Employment and Innovation?), we discussed research that suggested noncompete agreements hinder innovation. Expanding on why innovation is hindered, in any context in which a noncompete agreement is entered into e.g., an employment relationship, a founder whose start-up is being acquired, or an owner selling his or her … Continue Reading
Noncompete agreements and other restrictive covenants are customarily found in employment agreements and provided for in the sale of a business. In the employment context, companies simply do not want a former employee to take its business and set up shop or to go work for a competitor. In connection with the sale of a … Continue Reading
It may sound odd for a noncompete attorney to say this, but when it comes to enforcing a non-compete restriction, the applicable law is often less important than the context in which the noncompete restriction arises. To better understand this point, consider that noncompete restrictions, sometimes referred to as covenants not to compete, often arise … Continue Reading
