Sued After Being Hired by a Different Company in the Same Field

[Kevin168]

Recently I got a new job and resigned from my original
company. When I resigned, the employer of old
company said I signed a 5 years employment contract
and sued me breach contract, and asked several million
dollars compensation for their lost. The owner of my last
company is a lawyer and also owned a small law office
with other lawyers. He once said lawsuit was very
cheaper for him because he is lawyer. In fact, he did
not like me to leave and tried to threaten me. The
most important thing is he suspect me to bring
information of that company to new company. So his
lawyer interrogated me how I found this job, who
dragged me into new company. What trade secrete I
disclose to new information? etc. He sued me even one day
before I left that company.

Both companies are in the similar industrial field. But the products in new company have no relation with the old company products. The new
company has no any interests in the products of the original company.
I did not know any one in the new company when appling job. I found
the job from the internet. I did not sign any contract that I can not
work for competitors. But the ex-employer is over-suspicious.
Because she is specialist in law, so she abused lawsuit and make my
life miserable, make me lose money for lawsuit.

In my contract, there is one paragraph:

The Company shall have the sole option to
automatically renew this contract from month to month
until 2008. EMPLOYEE agrees that EMPLOYEE shall not
have any outside employment.

I signed this one in 2003 Feb. There is no other
statements regarding how to terminate. And the
original company said this is 5 yrs contract.

I know this is an unfair fight, any advice for me.

Thanks

[mlane58]

Kevin,

Since no one can read the entire document, you should really seek the advice of a local attorney.