At the first of the year I took a new job as an estimater with a fire restoration company. At the time I agreed to take employment I had two job offers. In my discussions with the company I decided to go with they never discussed with me signing a non-compete. I had already told the second company I was taking employment somewhere else. When I went to the corporate office to fill out my employment forms is when I found out there was a non-compete to sign. In retrospect I assume I should not have signed it but at the time I had been unemployed for several months and needed the work. After a very short period of time I realized the company was not what they made themselves out to be and started looking for new work. I only worked there for 6 months. I have been working for another company doing the same type of work for several months now. I received a letter recently from my previous employers lawyer saying that I might be in breech of the non-compete. It also states that I have possibly made defamatory remarks to their customers or clients. The non-compete states that I cannot take work in 4 counties in Kansas for a period of 2 years. The new job I took is in Missouri. I live in the Kansas City area which is situated right on the border of KS and MO. I guess my questions is when it states I cannot work in those 4 counties does that cover me taking employment with a company that resides in one of those counties or taking any construction jobs in those counties? On the fact of me making remarks about them (which I cannot even recall doing), I have been informed by clients they have made remarks about me. Would I have a counter complaint against them for that? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

