Fighting a Non-Compete in Ohio In the cases where a non-compete in Ohio is disputed, Ohio courts will evaluate the reasonability of the contract itself. The criteria used in this evaluation include: The duration prohibiting you from competing. The geographic area where you are prohibited from working.
The following are the most common ways to get out of a non-compete agreement: Determine that the terms of the contract do not in fact prevent you from a desired course of action. Recognize when a non-compete contradicts the law. Negotiate a release agreement with the involved parties. Ignore the agreement.
Introduction. The new FTC rule on non-competes will make most non-compete clauses illegal. It is scheduled to go into effect 120 days from April 23, 2024. A non-compete in Ohio is a contract between an employer and employee that states that the employee cannot compete with the employer after termination.
Ohio courts tend not to enforce non competition clauses lasting more than two years, although some Ohio courts have done so. Second is the geographic scope of the agreement. The larger the geographic area in which the employee is restricted from working, the more likely it is a court will holds it is too broad.
To enforce your non-compete agreement against you in Court, your employer must be able to prove that the restrictions in the agreement: (1) are no greater than necessary to protect its legitimate business interests, (2) do not impose an undue hardship on you as the employee, and (3) are not injurious to the public.
Several factors can void or limit the enforceability of a non-compete agreement, including overly broad restrictions, unreasonable time frames or geographical limits, lack of consideration (such as compensation or job opportunities provided in exchange for the agreement), and violation of public policy.
If the restriction on the employee is for an unusually long period of time, there's going to be a problem. One to two years is typically reasonable, while three to five years is unlikely to be upheld by a court.
Non-Competitive Activity at New Employer: One of the most straightforward ways to overcome a noncompete is by ensuring that your new role with a different employer is in a non-competitive capacity. If you're not engaging in activities that directly compete with your former employer's business, you may be in the clear.
The very basic requirements are that the non-compete must (1) be in writing; (2) be part of an employment contract; (3) be based on valuable consideration; (4) be reasonable in scope of time and of territory; (5) not be against public policy.