Legal Question in Employment Law in Tennessee

Is a Non-Compete Agreement Valid If You Were Asked To Sign It Several Years Afte

I work for a computer repair company. 3 years after my employment began, I was asked to sign a non-compete agreement in order to continue my employment. The contract stated that I could not compete with the company for a period of 18 months and in a radius of 100 miles. I had to sign or lose my job. Recently, I found a new job that offered more pay. The Job would not have competed with my employer, but my employer counter-offered with a substantial raise. So I chose to stay where I was. Only 3 months later, after my opportunity had long since passed, he stated that due to economic conditions, he would have to reverse my raise. Now I'm back where I started. I wish to leave the company. Will his non-compete contract stand If I decide to start my own business?


Asked on 3/24/03, 3:37 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
James R. Becker, Jr. Becker Law Firm

Re: Is a Non-Compete Agreement Valid If You Were Asked To Sign It Several Years

Odds are that the noncompete agreement is enforceable, but that is not certain. Noncompete agreements are generally enforceable in Tennessee. However, they are subject to a rule of reasonableness. Practically, this means that you could have quite a bit of room in working around the noncompete agreement.

As with any legal situation, you would be well-served to meet with an attorney to go over the details of your situation. If you would like to meet with one of our attorneys, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 901.527.5522.

Read more
Answered on 3/24/03, 3:49 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Labor and Employment Law questions and answers in Tennessee