The state Supreme Court today ruled in favor of a pair of business owners who sued the former owner of their business over the violation of a non-compete clause and tradename infringement.
In 2000 Scott and Steven Statz purchased D.L. Anderson Marine Contractors from owner and founder Donald Anderson. The purchase agreement included a non-compete clause, which the Statzes contend Anderson violated several years later.
The court’s decision also found the jury’s initial decision to grant $235,000 in awards to the Statzes was proper, reversing an appeals court ruling.
“We are satisfied that the evidence is sufficient to support the compensatory and punitive damage awards, and we reverse the decision of the court of appeals in regard to those matters,” Judge Patrick Crooks wrote in his decision.
The court also remanded the case to the appeals court, asking that court to determine whether Anderson owes the Statzes for attorney fees incurred during the appeals process.
