Legal Question in Business Law in New Jersey

Contract Law

My business partner(50/50) and I have decided to part company. We have a contract in place that addresses among other things, confidentiality of company information. The contract states that I can not of course solicit or ''make any public statements that could reasonably be interpreted as harmful to him or the company'' I told him that i was going to start informing people that I was no longer an owner and would be leaving the company for ''personal reasons''. He has told me not to because my leaving could have a negative impact on customers, pending contracts, and proposals. Can he force me to not ''say good-bye''? Is my leaving ''confidential'' just because he said it was? Can he take action against me for doing so?


Asked on 10/29/08, 2:02 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Jef Henninger, Esq Law Offices of Jef Henninger, Esq.

Re: Contract Law

You have to read the contract in whole to make a proper determination. However, I don't see that he could do anything about it.

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Answered on 10/29/08, 2:08 pm
Robert Davies The Davies Law Firm, P.A.

Re: Contract Law

Breaking up is hard to do.

Especially when there is an ongoing business and money involved.

You really should get a lawyer to advise you and guide you through this.

There are MANY more issues than just this demand from him. And I do not see how you telling customers etc. that you are leaving for personal reasons is harmful.

I do think you need to be concerned about making sure that you are not personally going to be liable for anything further for the business, for suppliers or unhappy customers, for taxes, for the landlord, or anyone else.

And what are you getting out of this business in which you were a partner?

Have a lawyer look over the contract. And get some advice before you jump.

Please call me if you would like me to assist you. I am in Hackensack, right across from the Bergen County Courthouse.

My contact information can be obtained from the links below, just click on the Attorney Profile link. Let my secretary know you found me through LawGuru. This website, LawGuru, will NOT let me list my phone number in this response.

Disclaimer: Your question and any response does NOT create an attorney-client relationship between you and this law firm. You can not rely on the statements made by an attorney given over the internet. The response that you have received is based only on the small amount of information which you have provided. The exact facts of your situation, including facts which you have not mentioned in your question, may completely change the result for your situation.

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Answered on 10/29/08, 2:20 pm


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