North Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Judgment for Competing in Breach of Employment Contract while Still Employed

The North Dakota Supreme Court upheld a judgment finding two employees of SolarBee, Inc., a North Dakota corporation that manufactures solar-powered water circulators, liable for a total of $621,800 in damages for breaching a non-compete agreement while still employed. The Court’s decision in SolarBee, Inc. v. Walker, No. 2012015 (June 24, 2013), is a reminder that employers are not completely without legal remedies in North Dakota, a state which generally bars restraints on solicitation or competition after employment ceases. (See North Dakota Century Code, Section 9-08-06.)