Tampa, FL asked in Contracts and Employment Law for Florida

Q: Question about non-competes...

I work as the sole IT person for a construction company in Tampa FL. When I started they made me sign a non-compete, which at the time I didn't really understand as it was my first "professional" job. I am now entertaining a job offer from a software vendor that provides various software packages to many Architectural, engineering and construction firms, including some of my current companies competitors. Would accepting that position violate my non-compete?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Linda Liang
Linda Liang
Answered
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: You can't invalidate a non-compete agreement based on your lacking of full understanding of what it is. In the absence of intentional representation on their side and other unfair dealings, you have to honor it. However, your hope is that the new job position does not constitute "competition" as defined in the agreement. You may ask an attorney to review the agreement for you to know for sure.

Bruce Alexander Minnick agrees with this answer

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Answered
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: Whether you are going to get hammered cannot be foretold because there are several dispositive facts omitted from your question , all of which could be answered if I had a copy of the agreement.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.