BatedBreath
Junior Member
I'm being sued by my old boss.
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? PA
Being that I am still involved in a lawsuit, I'll keep my comments generic and my identity anonymous.
Here's the scoop...
I was working for a company for almost 10 years. Over the last 2, I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied and unhappy with my employer. The reasons are probably not important.
So I initiated a job search throughout my industry and, though people I was doing business with would have been happy to have me as their employee, they would not hire me for fear of losing a big client (my employer). Those that did show interest were not very desirable and would have required relocation to another state, which was not an option anymore. This resulted in me contacting a direct competitor, which I was really trying to avoid because I knew it would create problems for me with my old boss, which it did.
The day I gave notice, I explained that I would be leaving the company to join my bosses competitor. I also explained that I had not accepted an offer but would be doing so by end of day. I believe I handled my departure civilly and with respect by advancing all my work for a few weeks in advance and offering time until the end of the week to train whoever they chose to take over my duties, which was acceptable. By the next day, my boss shows up for work early and tells my trainee to speed the plow to get me out of the building as soon as possible. The message was conveyed to me and training was completed by mid day. I had the rest of the week off.
My first day of work at the new company was the following Monday. By Tuesday, my new employer and myself both received letters in the mail stating I had too much proprietary information from my old employer's business and could be at risk of divulging trade secrets from my old company throughout the normal course of business. The claim was bogus and we all knew it so we ignored the threat, hoping it was only that.
2 weeks later, a motion was filed for a preliminary and/or permanent injunction hearing. Essentially, they wanted to kick me out in the street until the case is heard by a judge and ultimately, indefinitely. On a personal level, I was shocked, appalled, disgusted. At that point I realized my previous employer would stop at nothing to get me out of my new surroundings, which I was happy with.
Soon after, we received another request for deposition, which we declined. It was pretty apparent they had no case and were looking for any evidence they could sink their teeth into to ensure my departure from my new digs. When we turned them down, they filed for a court order, which was granted. They then sent us requests for documents, phone records, anything tangible that they could review to see if there were any improprieties in my communications with my new boss. That's when I could no longer hold out and I considered resigning. Truthfully, I'd rather be uncertain of my own future than having anyone else control it.
Today, I sit here a semi-broken person. We recently bought a house and had a second child (within a month!). I'm broke and need to pay the bills. My old boss knew all this and used it to full advantage. The lawsuit is not over. We don't know if my previous employer is willing to settle at this point and, since I'm prepared to part ways and let this go away, I may still need to retain an attorney of my own to finish this process. I'm generally screwed.
Can anyone here provide me with answers and/or assistance? I need some serious help.
Here's hoping...
BB
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? PA
Being that I am still involved in a lawsuit, I'll keep my comments generic and my identity anonymous.
Here's the scoop...
I was working for a company for almost 10 years. Over the last 2, I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied and unhappy with my employer. The reasons are probably not important.
So I initiated a job search throughout my industry and, though people I was doing business with would have been happy to have me as their employee, they would not hire me for fear of losing a big client (my employer). Those that did show interest were not very desirable and would have required relocation to another state, which was not an option anymore. This resulted in me contacting a direct competitor, which I was really trying to avoid because I knew it would create problems for me with my old boss, which it did.
The day I gave notice, I explained that I would be leaving the company to join my bosses competitor. I also explained that I had not accepted an offer but would be doing so by end of day. I believe I handled my departure civilly and with respect by advancing all my work for a few weeks in advance and offering time until the end of the week to train whoever they chose to take over my duties, which was acceptable. By the next day, my boss shows up for work early and tells my trainee to speed the plow to get me out of the building as soon as possible. The message was conveyed to me and training was completed by mid day. I had the rest of the week off.
My first day of work at the new company was the following Monday. By Tuesday, my new employer and myself both received letters in the mail stating I had too much proprietary information from my old employer's business and could be at risk of divulging trade secrets from my old company throughout the normal course of business. The claim was bogus and we all knew it so we ignored the threat, hoping it was only that.
2 weeks later, a motion was filed for a preliminary and/or permanent injunction hearing. Essentially, they wanted to kick me out in the street until the case is heard by a judge and ultimately, indefinitely. On a personal level, I was shocked, appalled, disgusted. At that point I realized my previous employer would stop at nothing to get me out of my new surroundings, which I was happy with.
Soon after, we received another request for deposition, which we declined. It was pretty apparent they had no case and were looking for any evidence they could sink their teeth into to ensure my departure from my new digs. When we turned them down, they filed for a court order, which was granted. They then sent us requests for documents, phone records, anything tangible that they could review to see if there were any improprieties in my communications with my new boss. That's when I could no longer hold out and I considered resigning. Truthfully, I'd rather be uncertain of my own future than having anyone else control it.
Today, I sit here a semi-broken person. We recently bought a house and had a second child (within a month!). I'm broke and need to pay the bills. My old boss knew all this and used it to full advantage. The lawsuit is not over. We don't know if my previous employer is willing to settle at this point and, since I'm prepared to part ways and let this go away, I may still need to retain an attorney of my own to finish this process. I'm generally screwed.
Can anyone here provide me with answers and/or assistance? I need some serious help.
Here's hoping...
BB
Last edited:
