What to do if I have a former employer’s customer list and am now going to work for a competitor after 2.5 years but am now being threatened with a lawsuit?
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What to do if I have a former employer’s customer list and am now going to work for a competitor after 2.5 years but am now being threatened with a lawsuit?
My former employer has found out about the list through a disgruntled competitor, who I have not decided to join. The former employer is now threatening to sue. The list has not been shared with anyone at this point.
Asked on May 25, 2013 under Employment Labor Law, Minnesota
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
This would be considered intellectual property and/or proprietary information of the company and you should check the handbook with the company with which you were previously prior to using this information. If this is disallowed by the company or by your state's laws, you cannot use this information. It would be probably part of the process you should have probably used like informaing clients but giving them the choice. Were these your personal clients? If so, that is different. If not, you may be indeed sued.
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