COMPLETE DEFENSE VERDICT GRANTED TO HINKLE LAW FIRM CLIENTS IN JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS

In 2013, a PEO Provider (Hinkle client) hired an employee from another PEO provider in order to start operations in the Kansas City market.  The former employer alleged the employee had a non-compete agreement that prevented him from going to work for a competing organization and from soliciting clients of his former employer.  The employee did begin working for Hinkle’s client and was successful in soliciting several companies from his former employer.

The employee never signed a non-compete agreement.  The former employer claimed that the employee’s signature acknowledging receipt of an employee handbook that contained a provision about the presentation of a non-compete, together with some draft non-compete agreements that had been circulated but never signed, formed the basis of the non-compete agreement.

The Plaintiff also made allegations that the former employee misappropriated trade secret information, tortiously interfered with client contracts and that the PEO provider and the former employee conspired to use misappropriated trade secrets and confidential information to solicit clients.

Hinkle attorneys Michelle Stewart and Jennifer Johnson vigorously defended the PEO provider and the former employee and after a four day bench trial the Court found  in favor of both of Hinkle Law Firm’s clients.