My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ask if it's necessary. I live in a small state.

Hello,

I was employed for over 5 years at a company that I was fired from 10 months ago. 8 months ago, I opened my own business in the same industry. I have received information that my ex boss is now actively trying to thwart my ability to do business (he called mutual clients we have and informed them that I was fired under unfriendly terms, which is illegal, I believe).

He phoned me and told me that I was bound by a n0n-c0m pete (i dont want search engines finding this forum in case he searches) agreement I signed with him over 5 years ago. I have no copies of this, and don't remember if I even signed a NCA with him.

I fear that he may be doing this simply to intimidate me, and would want to prove the authenticity of such a contract and signature. How could I go about doing this? How should I respond to him? I have stolen no trade secrets, nor taken customers or resources from his business.

My concern is, should he produce a "copy" (possible photoshopped?) or even an original, how could I prove its legitimacy, given that I never got copies of it when I first was employed with them, nor do I remember what I may have signed back then. I wouldn't put it past him to produce a fake copy in hopes that I could be intimidated into voluntarily withdrawing from doing business.

Funny, but he had known for a long time about my ambitions, and even when speaking to me about them, never mentioned a NCA before...

Sorry if this post is all disjointed, but I hope that you get the gist of what I'm asking.

Thank you all very much, in advance, for your time and any help.

This may be better situated in the "Contract Law" forum. Sorry for any misposting on my part.