House of Tools and Engineering, Inc. v. Price

CLEMENS, Acting Presiding Judge.

Plaintiff corporation sued to enjoin defendant, its former employee, from competing with plaintiff in violation of defendant’s post-employment covenant. The trial court denied relief and plaintiff appeals. We reverse and remand.

Plaintiff distributes pneumatic and hydraulic tools in parts of Missouri and Illinois and therein is distributor for the Cle-co line of pneumatic tools. Only five or six other companies manufacture pneumatic tools, the largest of which is Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company, defendant’s present employer.

On November 1, 1967 plaintiff employed…