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Motion Control Systems, Inc. v. East

546 S.E.2d 424 (2001)

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Motion Control Systems, Inc. v. East

Virginia Supreme Court
546 S.E.2d 424 (2001)

Facts

Motion Control Systems, Inc. (Motion Control) (plaintiff) designed and produced custom brushless motors. To protect its business, Motion Control required its employees to sign confidentiality agreements and agreements not to compete. Gregory East (defendant), a Motion Control employee, signed an agreement not to work for a business similar to Motion Control within a certain radius of the company’s headquarters for two years after terminating his employment with Motion Control. The agreement defined a similar business as “any business that designs, manufactures, sells, or distributes motors, motor drives, or motor controls.” Eight months after resigning from his job at Motion Control, East took a job with Litton Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of motors. Motion Control sued to enforce its agreement with East. The trial court concluded that the agreement was unenforceable because its definition of similar businesses was unreasonably broad. The trial court ruled for Motion Control on a separate issue, prompting East to appeal.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Lacy, J.)

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