A Florida judge entered a ruling that pushed back against a legal strategy in which a business owner sought to invalidate a noncompete before competing.

Levy Circuit Judge Craig DeThomasis ruled that plaintiff Edward C. Hodge, owner of Derby Gold Pine Shavings Co., sought a judicial advisory opinion “to gain business leverage” after experts that “he trusted” presented testimony. In the testimony, the experts asserted that Hodge was “not bound by the terms of the non-compete clause” involving defendant All-In Removal LLC.

Levy Circuit Judge Craig DeThomasis. (Credit: The Eight Judicial Circuit of Florida) Levy Circuit Judge Craig DeThomasis. (Credit: The Eight Judicial Circuit of Florida)