Law Firm Resources & News

The Roanoke Valley is again the location of the next important physician non-compete case in Virginia. The case, Carilion Healthcare v. William Ball, was decided by the Roanoke County Circuit Court in 2001. Carilion is western Virginia’s 800 pound healthcare gorilla and began purchasing local medical practices in order to guarantee a stream of hospital…

The Circuit Court of Fredericksburg (VA) decided the next important Virginia case involving doctors and non-compete contracts. The case, decided in 1998, was Clara Belle Wheeler v. Fredericksburg Orthopedic Associates and Mid-Atlantic Health Alliance. Dr. Wheeler (an orthopedic surgeon) and medical practices entered into a written employment agreement for a 12 month period. The agreement…

The next important decision by a Virginia court on the legality and enforceability of a physician’s non-compete comes from my hometown of Roanoke, VA. The case was called Drs. Blum Newman, Blackstock & Associates, Optometrists v. Timothy Jessee, MD and was decided in 1997. Dr. Jessee (the defendant), an optometrist resigned his employment of nine…

The employee worked as an account executive for an insurance broker. He signed a non-compete agreement which provided as follows: For a period of two years following termination of employment, employee shall not: (i) On behalf of himself, another insurance company and/or agency, directly orindirectly, seek to induce, promote, facilitate, solicit, quote rates for, receive,…