Mass Law Blog

Rent-A-PC Fails to Enforce Restrictive Covenants Against Former Employees

by | May 30, 2013

In this May 28th, 2013 decision by Massachusetts Federal District Court Judge George O’Toole, Rent-A-PC unsuccessfully sought to obtain a preliminary injunction against two former employees, and to enforce a confidentiality agreement against a third.

As to two of the employees, Rent-A-PC attempted to enforce a one year covenant not to compete. Judge O’Toole denied that motion, finding that the employees underwent several material changes to their employment, making it likely that their agreements had been abrogated. In analyzing this issue Judge O’Toole relied heavily on F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co. v. Barrington, a hallowed chestnut in Massachusetts noncompete case law dating back to 1968, but one that had been largely ignored until it was revived by a series of Superior Court cases in 2004.* Judge O’Toole’s reliance on F.A. Bartlett reinforces the impression that this doctrine has come full circle.

*These cases held that when the employment itself was the consideration for a noncompetition provision but the employee’s job had substantially changed, the provision was no longer enforceable.

The third employee had only a confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement, and the court found there was insufficient evidence to show he had violated it.

Rent-A-PC, Inc. v. Robert March, et al. (D. Mass., May 28, 2013)