Legal Question in Business Law in California

using a competitor employee as an independent contractor

Is it legal to use an employee of a competitor as an independent contractor for sales referrals?


Asked on 6/26/07, 1:21 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Amy Ghosh Law Offices of Amy Ghosh

Re: using a competitor employee as an independent contractor

It is not illegal but definitely unethical and can incur civil liability.

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Answered on 6/27/07, 9:50 am
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: using a competitor employee as an independent contractor

It's not "illegal" in the sense that it would be a crime, as far as I know at least. I can think of at least two rather sound grounds on which the parties might be sued civilly - unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets - and probably other grounds could be dreamed up by the injured employer's attorney. Whether there would be an award of money damages would depend upon proof of actual damages.

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Answered on 6/26/07, 2:54 pm


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