Legal Question in Employment Law in Illinois

Hi!

About three months ago I was working for a major trading corporation (company A) in Chicago as a developer. It was a good paying job but I was a little unsatisfied with the work conditions, so I decided to interview with a competing trading company (Company B) in Chicago. I went to an interview at Company B's office and they made me sign a confidentiality agreement in which they specifically agreed that they would not contact my current employer without my consent. But unfortunately, as a I returned from their interview somebody from HR department of company B called my current employer for a reference check. This didnt go well with my current employer and they fired me the next day. Since I was on H1B visa in US I had to move out of the country immediately because I lost my visa status. Now my friends tell me that I had a legal case against the company B which breached my confidentiality. I would like to have an opinion do I have a case and can I pursue that case while I am not in U.S.

I have a lot of evidence in form of emails exchanged with company B where they very clearly agree that they contacted company A. And I have an audio recording of my last meeting with my manager where he clearly says that he is letting me go because I interviewed with another firm.

Thanks for your help.

Thanks,


Asked on 10/25/10, 8:07 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

Someone would have to review the confidentiality agreement to see what your rights are under the agreement, and then if they're not, other rights may protect you as long as you were here legally.

The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. The response does not form an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to be anything other than the educated opinion of the author. It should not be relied upon as legal advice. The response given is based upon the limited facts provided by the person asking the question. To the extent additional or different facts exist, the response might possibly change. Attorney is licensed to practice law only in the State of Illinois. Responses are based solely on Illinois law unless stated otherwise.

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Answered on 10/31/10, 1:22 pm


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