A former employee cannot use a customer list compiled by his former employer in order to compete with it for business, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas ruled Feb. 23 (Fireworks Spectacular Inc. v. Premier Pyrotechnics Inc., D. Kan., No. 99-2240-GTV, 2/23/00).
Matthew P. Sutcliffe went to work for Fireworks Spectacular Inc. and Piedmont Display Fireworks Inc. in 1996 as a commissioned salesperson. Within a year, he started serving as general manager of both companies in addition to acting as a salesperson. A written employment agreement containing a covenant not to compete was prepared, but never signed by Sutcliffe. In 1998, Sutcliffe left Fireworks Spectacular to start his own business, Premier Pyrotechnics Inc. The latter was intended to directly compete with the Sutcliffe’s former employer and now services several of plaintiffs’ former customers.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
