An employee can challenge a restrictive covenant if they believe it is unreasonable or prevents them from finding suitable employment. If the covenant is too broad or not essential to protecting the employer's business, it may be deemed unenforceable by the courts.
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.
Under Ohio law, noncompetition contracts are generally enforceable if they are reasonable. The question of what's reasonable is a very fact-specific one though. It depends on the particular circumstances of a given situation, and the Ohio Supreme Court has set out a legal test for courts to apply.
If a non-compete in Ohio is longer than two years, or the area included is too broad, the court will usually deem the contract unreasonable. Also, if you are in a niche industry or market, a non-compete in Ohio will also limit your options for employment, causing undue hardship.
Are discriminatory restrictive covenants illegal? Generally, yes. Since the United States Supreme Court's 1948 decision in the case Shelley v. Kraemer, restrictive covenants based on race have been unenforceableA contract will not be enforced by a court of law..
Related Content. An agreement or promise to do or provide something, or to refrain from doing or providing something, which is meant to be binding on the party giving the covenant (who may be referred to as the "covenantor").
Restrictive Covenants, Explained This restricts how homeowners can manage and modify their land. Examples include restrictions on fence options, the type of animals allowed and the use of outbuildings, such as sheds.
Some covenants require certain action to be taken (e.g., owners of a home must trim their trees) while others restrict action (e.g., owners of a home are not allowed to build a fence).