Weed Eater, Inc. v. Dowling

COLEMAN, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from an order denying a temporary injunction. Weed Eater, Inc., sued Thomas W. Dowling to enforce the provisions of an employment agreement containing a covenant not to compete and a covenant against the disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information. The trial court enjoined Dowling from revealing trade secrets or confidential information, but refused to enforce the covenant not to compete.

Thomas W. Dowling, Jr., was employed by Weed Eater, Inc., as vice president of manufacturing. While so employed, he designed and organized an assembly line…