Legal Question in Business Law in California

Business Questionsq

I worked for a company not to long ago that I was the IT Director. While I was there I was also working on a business plan for that business and a plan for my own business. I left the business plan for my business on the company computer. Is there a legal issue that can arise from having a personal business plan (although not a competing business) on the laptop? My former employer and I did not have a healthy relationship and on giving my resignation, he would not release my company email. He refuses to shutdown my email account and says he is monitoring for future emails? I am uncertain why he might be leaving my email account open? IS there anything I can do to get him to shutdown my email. I called him and he stated it was so he could correspond with any emails that should straggle in. I feel like he is actually just trying to use my contacts to build more business. What can I do about this? Is there some legal action I can take? Is there some type of legal issue with me leaving my personal business plan on the laptop even though its not a competing business.


Asked on 5/21/08, 1:30 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: Business Questions

What legal action? You left your personal documents at work when you left? Why would you care about incoming email to your former work address unless you were getting personal email there?

(This happens all the time in employment litigation, people leave their pay stubs or performance evaluations at work and they leave suddenly, and surprise! they don't ever see the documents again.)

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Answered on 5/21/08, 1:49 pm
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Business Questionsq

Unless there's more to this than you've told us, it's unlikely you're going to be sued for anything. The company doesn't have to shut down your former email address; it belongs to them. Their only gripe against you would be possibly using company time to work on non-company matters, and unless they can prove you did your business plan on company time, the fact that you did it on a company laptop doesn't sound like grounds for a successful suit.

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Answered on 5/21/08, 2:10 pm


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