NEW YORK -- A judge has temporarily barred a dog walker from tending his four-legged clients within a 10-mile radius of a Manhattan rival's territory.
State Supreme Court Justice Debra James ruled that Brian Mestre could not run his business near his former employer, Paw Stop, because he had signed a noncompete agreement with the dog daycare center.
Paw Stop owner Dan Rubenstein sued Mestre alleging that he had spotted the former employee walking a customer's dog in violation of the two-year agreement.
Mestre's lawyer, Lawrence Goodman, says the court is preventing his client from "earning a livelihood."
Mestre worked as a front-desk clerk at Paw Stop on Murray Street in January 2007. Rubenstein says Mestre was allowed access to the company's client database.
Paw Stop owner Dan Rubenstein sued Mestre alleging that he had spotted the former employee walking a customer's dog in violation of the two-year agreement.
Mestre's lawyer, Lawrence Goodman, says the court is preventing his client from "earning a livelihood."
Mestre worked as a front-desk clerk at Paw Stop on Murray Street in January 2007. Rubenstein says Mestre was allowed access to the company's client database.
