Almers v. South Carolina National Bank

Ness, Justice:

This case involves the question of whether a non-competition clause in a noncontributory pension plan, where such clause is unlimited in terms of time and geographical extent, constitutes an unreasonable restraint on trade, and is thus void and unenforceable as against public policy.

Aimers was an employee of the South Carolina National Bank (hereinafter SCN) of Charleston, during a seventeen-year period from 1948 until 1965. In 1965, he left the respondent’s employ and took a position with Southern Bank and Trust Company (hereinafter Southern), in Green-ville, South Carolina. At…