California Non-compete Agreements Revisited

In this article we revisit the topic of California non-competition agreements  (also referred to as California non-compete agreements).

In the recent Silguero case, the California Court of Appeal for the Second District was presented with a twist on a recurring issue….that is, the enforceability of non-compete agreements in California. (See this blog’s earlier post, California Non-Compete Agreements).

Summary Facts:

In Silguero, the Plaintiff was employed as a sales rep for Company A. During her employment with Company A, Silguero was required to sign an agreement which prohibited her “from all sales activities for 18 months following either her departure or termination.” Silguero was eventually terminated from Company A, and she subsequently found employment with Company B. Thereafter, Company A contacted Company B and informed Company B that Silguero had signed a confidentiality/noncompete agreement with Company A, which prohibited Sugiura from all sales activities for 18 months following her departure from Company A. As a result of this communication from Company A., Company B terminated Silguero. Silguero sued Company B under various theories, including a Tameny claim (termination in violation of California public policy). The lower court granted Company B’s demurrer without leave to amend and Silguero appealed.

Holding:

The Second District reversed and remanded as to the Tameny claims, holding that Silguero had a viable Tameny claim against a subsequent employer based on public policy violation of California BPC 16600.

We’ve seen this fact pattern prior to the Silguero ruling, and we believe that it is not an uncommon practice in California.

About Adishian Law Group, P.C.

Adishian Law Group is a California law firm with a statewide practice in the areas of Corporate law, Employment law, Real Estate law and Mediation Services. Adishianlaw.com is one of the oldest continually operating law firm websites on the Internet. The firm serves its clientele via three offices located in the major business hubs of El Segundo, Palo Alto and San Francisco. As of March 2013, Adishian Law Group, P.C. has represented individual and corporate clients located across 20 California counties, 4 States outside of California and 9 foreign countries — in over 340 legal matters.

For more information about this topic or to speak with Chris Adishian:

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