Now you are violating a forged NDA. Prepare to be sued!
No-compete clauses aren't generally enforcable, anyway. Sucks that you lost a vendor, but that's their choice to make, and they'll lose the revenue you would have provided them. I am sure there are other vendors.
move on, water under the bridge, dont cry over spilt milk. find new clients that are in no way associated with your former employer
what are you going to do? do you have money to sue them? prob not so forget about it and press on and build your company.
The assumption is that you didn't sign it and not realize it when you started your employment/signed your contract.
Secondly, its generally a no no to steal clients you picked up at your former employer.
Thirdly, they don't have to hand over shit to you unless you sue them. Good luck with that.
Thats why no compete clauses are required. His former employer didnt think to make him sign one, too bad. What is he supposed to do, beg for food? Businesses compete for clients, and connections are an important part of that. If his former employer didnt rip clients off, he wouldnt have a problem.
Thank you for the responses so far. But just to reiterate NO I absolutely did not sign a non compete form EVER. In my exit interview I handed in my office keys and went home.
Depends on the reach of your business. Is it largely local and a business that is difficult to expand beyond your town? If so then it might be worth fighting.
It also depends on how much money you are making. If you were able to get on a firm footing and have good cash flow before all this started, then you might have the resources to fight it.
If you don't have the resources to fight, or if your business is not location dependent, then don't bother.
What size of company is your former employer?
A 'do not compete' isn't usually a separate document. Much of the time it is integrated into your employment contract signed at the beginning of your employment.
They are a small company. Less than 10 employees. And I want to reiterate that the formerly unhappy client came to me. In this instance I did not solicit them. Nor anyone else and I have done quite well drumming up my own clients.
Also I spoke to a former employee of the company in question and his non compete form was completely seperate from his letter of employment.
Also thank you VERY much on the rating system. I had no idea there was such a thing!