injunction and damages claims

[jaypum]

i have worked for a company on a sub contract labour only basis, not on a large scale as we work for numerous different customers, but about 5% of our turn over.
I was contacted by a customer and carried out works in excess of 50k, the company i sub to as mentioned earlier now claim i have stolen their clients, and are threatening me with an injunction to stop me trading with their client base and are threatening legal action to claim the profit i made on the project.
where do i stand on this subject?

 

[Billmccallum]

depends on the contract you had with them, if it specifically states a non-compete clause and if that clause is enforcable.

 

[jaypum]

No contract, verbally or written, we sub contract to various customers, m&e, direct to clients etc
They state they don't need one as I was firstly introduced to the customer by their rep?

 

[simon field]

Surely business is business? As far as I know, a subby has no legal ties or constraints with a company they do work for, unless of course something has been agreed / signed.

After all, if a client wants the work done direct, and the subby's happy to do it, where's the problem? Obviously you'll never work for the original company again, but that's the chance you take isn't it?

 

[Billmccallum]

No contract, verbally or written, we sub contract to various customers, m&e, direct to clients etc
They state they don't need one as I was firstly introduced to the customer by their rep?

construction industry standard is JCT Minor Works Building Contract, if you have no binding contract they can't enforce it.